Pauline Dinis

I'm taking part in Walk For A Cure

I'm taking part in Walk For A Cure because I want to help end the devastation of dementia.

Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity, dedicated to finding a cure.

Research is our only chance of stopping dementia in its tracks and offering hope to the many families affected. 

My mother’s mother developed dementia and pasted away. 

My mother’s brother developed dementia and pasted away. 

My mother has developed dementia and lives with this devastating disease. I am grateful that she is still with us. 

That mum doesn’t remember having dementia.  

That forgetting people’s names is normal. 

That forgetting what objects are called is normal. 

That forgetting what mum had for dinner is normal. 

The forgetting goes on and on but it’s normal……

I am grateful that mum remembers me, my sister, my partner and her close loved ones. Even though mum sometimes gets our names mixed up and says “your mother is stupid sometimes” and then laughs. 

I dread the possibility of one day that my mum forgets who I am. Taking photos of us all today has become so important now. Even though I hate being in photos. 

Up until November my mum would still travel to London to visit me and my partner. Mum no longer wants to travel. She says: “I am too old to travel”. I believe it’s more like the stress, the anxiety and fear it causes for her. 

I am grateful that mum can still remember parts of her past and still tells us stories about it. That we can still laugh together. 

That when I am being mischievous, mum says: “You so naughty, my child’ all the while laughing at me. 

Short-term memory is declining. 

Finding words, following conversations is difficult. 

Losing track of what mum was saying and switching conversations is increasing. 

Forgetting why mum went into a room is frustrating. 

Forgetting how to use the TV remote means the TV is broken. 

Forgetting to buy fruit cocktail and custard when mum goes shopping. And mum really loves her fruit cocktail and custard. Not to mention the ice cream. 

Dementia is the UK's biggest killer, it affects us all and it devastates lives.

Every 3 minutes someone in the UK develops dementia. 

1 in 3 people born in the UK today will go on to develop dementia in their lifetime. 

Your donation will fuel cutting-edge research that could uncover new life-changing treatments, bringing us closer to a cure. 

Thank you for your support.