Friends Maggie Hookes and Bridget Alexander have set off on an epic journey that will see them travel over 400-miles from Saltaire to the Isle of Skye.
The pair aims to raise as much money as possible in support of the Alzheimer’s Society, a charity close to both their hearts.
Describing their motivation for taking on the challenge, Maggie said “In January 2018 I lost my wonderful granny, Mary to Alzheimer’s, shortly afterwards in November 2019 my amazing Mum was diagnosed with early-onset dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Society along with friends, family and neighbours have provided so much help and support to my family and because of this, I want to say thank you, in any way I can!
Buzz’s family has also been hugely affected by this horrendous disease. Losing her Grandma, Irene after a 10-year decline and now battling it with other family members, she’s also passionate about giving back to Alzheimer’s Society and making some noise about this quiet and debilitating disease.”
Having started the challenge on Saturday, 14th August they are 68% of the way towards their initial fundraising goal of £1,000. If you can afford to make a donation, no matter how big or small, visit their JustGiving page.
Close to a million people in the UK suffer from dementia with estimates suggesting this figure will grow by roughly 50% over the next decade.
This means that most people will be affected by dementia at some point in their lives, be it directly or through a loved one.
Alzheimer’s Society is a wonderful charity that offers support to sufferers and their families, as well as funding research into treatments and ultimately cures for various types of demenitia. Find out more about what they do via their website.
Dementia is a commonly misunderstood disease that affects the brain and can be present in varying degrees and severities. If you’d like to learn more about it, here’s a short yet eye opening article: 5 things you should know about dementia.
Speaking about the reasons for choosing the Isle of Skye as their destination, Maggie said “The Isle of Skye is somewhere Buzz and I have always wanted to visit. More so, it’s the place where my Mum and Dad had their honeymoon back in 1985. And of course home of Talisker whiskey (Mum’s favourite tipple!)
We couldn’t think of a better way to honour all these people than an epic pilgrimage from Saltaire to Skye (and back again by any means necessary).”
You can follow Maggie and Buzz’s Saltaire 2 Skye journey via their Just Giving page.
Once again, all donations towards their goal are appreciated and if you’d like to support further, share this article on your social media accounts.
