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Trek 26 - Raising money for Alzheimer's

Author: Grace Busby

Published Date: 2019/12

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Trek26 – A 26 mile trek over the Brecon Beacons
Date: July 2020
Raising money for Alzheimer’s
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Lots of people associate Alzheimer’s as an illness for the elderly. However, it becomes a frightening reality that out of 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, over 42,000 of them are under 65!

Symptoms of dementia include memory loss, confusion and problems with speech and understanding. Dementia is a terminal condition that causes huge stress and upset to all effected including the person diagnosed, their family and friends.

As it stands there are no drug treatments that can cure Alzheimer's disease but there are lots of different treatments to help someone with Alzheimer’s to live well with the condition and delay further onset.

Our Regional Director Alun Leach has organised a 26 mile trek over the Brecon Beacons to raise awareness of the disease and to fundraise to help people and their families who are suffering with it.

So far, Alun will be joined by fellow Vibe teammates Jordan Thomas and Matt Grindle as well as several supportive friends. We want to encourage as many people to take part as possible!

Alun said: “Out of all the charities I’ve raised money for throughout the years, it’s Alzheimer’s that seems to generate the most common response of: “my mother, father, friend is currently suffering”. A friend I approached to take part in this event is not able to for this exact reason (best of luck Dave).

I try to limit the amount of times I produce a sponsorship form throughout the year, but this cause really strikes a cord with me. The total cost of care for people with dementia in the UK is £34.7billion (set to rise sharply over the next two decades, to £94.1billion), Alzheimer's Society is committed to spending at least £150 million over the next decade on dementia research to improve care for people today and find a cure for tomorrow. This includes £50 million to develop the UK’s first dedicated Dementia Research Institute. I’m happy to bang a drum (or walk a few mountains) to help support that."

Alun and the team will be taking part in planned training events at; Penyfan, Elan Valley and Snowdonia between now and the event. Get in touch with Alun if this is something you’d like to get involved with and if you don’t fancy the trek you can still contribute by making a donation here: Alun's Just Giving page.