As mentioned in our previous blog, we set a series of challenges to those within our community in order to attempt to raise as much money as we can possibly for DementiaUK. As we continue to keep stepping over dementia, we thought we would share a member from our community’s story as to why they are advocating for an organisation such as DementiaUK.
Georgia H is one a member of our Mobility team based in our Sheffield shop. Georgia has decided to participate in the personal challenge in order to raise money and awareness for DementiaUK.
Georgia’s challenged herself to walk 200km as well as knitting for 28 hours! This challenge became even more inspiring once we heard her reason as to why she was raising money for DementiaUK.
Upon reading Georgia’s reason for advocating, we were quick to message her and ask if she would be open to sharing her story further to those within our community and she was quick to agree in doing so.
We then replied to Georgia with the following questions for her to give us more of an insight into how Dementia has affected not just herself but those nearest and dearest.
Tell us a little bit about what inspired you to start fundraising for dementia?
I have wanted to do some fundraising for charity for a while and back in November I was looking for a charity I could either crochet items for or do a crochet challenge for but none seemed suitable at the time. When I saw that the company was working together to raise money for Dementia, and that you could set your own challenges, I thought I was a perfect opportunity to do so and for a charity that is very close to my heart.
How are you fundraising for this cause?
In February I am walking 200km and crocheting for 28 hours and am documenting my walking on Strava, and both the walking and crochet on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.
Why is raising awareness about dementia important to you?
Raising awareness and money for Dementia is important to me because it is a disease that has affected my family in the past and present. I unfortunately lost my great-grandma to dementia during the COVID 19 lockdown and it was a particularly hard time for us due to the state of the world at and us not being able to be as close as we could.
My grandma on that side of the family has now been diagnosed with an early form of the disease, MCI (mild cognitive impairment) and it is really impacting her as she understands her memory is getting worse and looked after her mum when she was struggling.
What do you wish more people knew about dementia?
I wish more people knew that dementia isn’t always hereditary, and can happen to anyone. It is more common in the elderly community and in females, but anyone of any age and any gender can develop dementia and can be affected by it from their family and friends.
Also a lot of people with dementia don’t just struggle with issues with memory there can be a lot of other visible changes in the person. There can be a complete change in behaviour, attitude or even personality.
The disease can cause serious confusion, delusions and even hallucinations causing the person to not know who you are or think you’re someone else and this can be awfully painful for loved ones but we must understand the confusion they are struggling with daily and be compassionate.
Have you heard any inspiring stories from others affected by dementia?
Dementia can be a horrible disease but a lot of people do continue to do great things and continue things that they love, especially early on in the diagnosis and I think that is incredibly inspiring to be able to keep your interests going when possible in times of confusion and uncertainty.
I have seen a few stories of people continually their passions even after a diagnosis. There was a country music star, Glen Campbell, continued to perform despite being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2010. His 2011 farewell tour, “Goodbye Tour”, lasted for several years.
I saw that a lady named Sue was diagnosed with vascular dementia and was advised to keep fit to help with symptoms by the doctor. Sue went on to run the London Marathon to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK. These and many other people who continue to follow their dreams and keep healthy despite a diagnosis really are inspiring.
What changes or breakthroughs would you love to see in dementia research or care in the future?
I would like to see more research into management of the disease. I know from experience that a lot of people with dementia struggle more with memory and confusion in the evening compared to early in the day and I’d like to see more research on why that is.
Also on whether there is anything that causes them to be more lucid in mornings, and whether that can be replicated in any way to give those who struggle a lot in the evening some relief from the intenseness or whether it is inevitable that evenings are a lot worse.
I also would love to see more tools and resources such as memory aids to help reassure the person who is struggling with dementia that they are safe, who they are, where they are and what they are doing. There may be some tools like this out there but I haven’t come across them in care or in personal life.
What insight would you like to give others about your fundraising challenge?
This is my first ever fundraising event as an adult but I would like to do more for other charities that are close to me later in the year
How you can show your support:
Georgia’s story is just one out of many that highlight and show the reality of dementia and the affects it has on those around that loved one. We really wish Georgia all the best of luck as February continues and her fundraising efforts keep going.
We have attached a link to Georgia’s Justgiving page, where you can donate a small amount in support of her advocacy. Georgia Henderson is fundraising for Dementia UK
