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Bobbie and Ann

Walk 30 Miles in September 2026

Help me reach my goal of £250

Join the Facebook group for Walk 30 miles in September challenge.

I'm walking 30 Miles in September for Dementia UK

This September, I'm walking 30 Miles and raising funds to help ensure no family faces dementia alone. I'm taking on the challenge for Dementia UK, the specialist dementia nursing charity, and would be grateful for your support.

Your donation, big or small, makes a difference. £33 could fund a new dementia specialist Admiral Nurse to spend an hour helping a family in the community, offering practical solutions and emotional support to cope with their loved one’s distressed behaviour.

Thank you!

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

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£275 + £26.25 GiftAid

My Goal

£250

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Received 5 Donations

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My Updates

Day 13 Update

Sunday 13th Sep


When I first took on the challenge of walking 30 miles in September for Dementia UK, I assumed I would probably bank most of those miles in our usual weekly walks. It seemed like an easy challenge to fit in with my existing routine. Nothing needed to change. But then, on the first day of the challenge, I sprained my ankle and I have been forced to stick to the 1 mile a day. I have been able to do that mile every day and I am grateful for that but having to get out every day has forced me to adapt my routine.

I am naturally someone who likes to “bank” things…I like to cook meals in advance so I have a freezer full of home-cooked meals, I like to squirrel away stocking fillers for Christmas ridiculously early, I constantly work and rework my budgets to build up funds for things in the future. It goes against my natural way of operating to take things one day at a time. But it is interesting. I am reminded of the Ancient Israelites living day to day on God’s provision in the desert, unable to collect and store food for the next day.

When living with dementia, you have very little control over the future. No-one can give you a road map. You literally don’t know what tomorrow might bring. You can’t bank all of your worries and hurts and fears into one day of the week and live how you want for the rest of the week. You have to take things one day at a time.

As I put my boots on for another short, daily walk, I am reminded of a word of encouragement for those of us who are feeling powerless to plan for the future, for those of us who have to trust God for each day. God says:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”

(2 Corinthians 12:9)

Day 3 completed

Thursday 3rd Sep
So, I managed my mile today! I walked with support for my ankle and at least one crutch. As I did 2 miles on day 1 before I fell, I am actually bang on target!! Each mile for the next week or so will be far more of a challenge than I had thought when I started this but that is somehow okay...maybe even just how it should be???  When people begin the difficult walk with dementia things are never planned and certainly not easy.  Please share my page if you think anyone would be interested and please consider supporting the charity. 

Day Two

Wednesday 2nd Sep
Day Two: 
I have two bits of news for day 2 of my walking challenge to raise awareness of dementia and to help raise some money to support those living, one way or another, with this disease.
The first bit of news is that you may have noticed a change in the name on this challenge. Instead of just my name on the challenge page, we now also have Ann.
In our church, we were recently reminded of some words Jesus said: "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35)
It is good to remember that in church. When faced with dementia, the squabbles and disagreements we still fall into in churches is seen for the nonsense it really is. When faced with dealing with dementia we (perhaps ironically?) remember what really matters. 
So, it seemed appropriate to make this challenge more of a community thing and Ann agreed to join me. For those of you reading this in Norton Baptist Church, there will be other stuff that Ann and I do during September, including a prayer meeting so look out for details of that.
For those of you who don’t go to church, I hope this change at least shows a little bit of the willingness within church communities  to put our faith into practice together.
The second bit of news is that, on the way back from my mile+ walk yesterday, I fell and badly sprained my ankle. It seems strange to me that I have literally walked up and down mountains without injury and, recently, have carefully picked my way up and down wet stones and rocks without slipping and yet, on an ordinary road with a fairly innocent looking grass verge, I fell! The wonderful people at urgent care at Kendal hospital x-rayed the ankle, reassured me that they could not see a fracture (it will be reviewed by specialists but I am hopeful) and equipped me with a splint that wraps around my lower leg and contains cooling gel pads and crutches. I already feel much better and will restart the mile a day when I can and will make up any days that I miss. Martin is insisting I rest and, although the “Outside” is calling, even I can see the sense of this. My ankle is still swollen and I know I risk an even more annoying injury if I don’t let this one heal.
So..Ann will continue the challenge (she even offered to do my mile on top of hers whilst I am incapacitated but I am determined to finish the challenge one way or another) but for me, today, it is time to put my leg up, get Martin to make me a cup of tea and watch Bargain Hunt!!! 

Day one

Tuesday 1st Sep
Today marks the start of the challenge. I won't have any difficulty wlaking the required mile a day but this challenge is about more than that for me. Walking every day, I remember the struggles of people I know at church and beyond who have dementia themselves or who have loved ones with dementia. It is a cruel disease and, although support is beginning to emerge, it is never enough for those affected. If you have not sponsored me (or anyone else on the challenge) yet, please think about whether or not you are able to afford a donation. Even the smallest amount could fund a phonecall that helps struggling people feel less alone and maybe a little more able to cope.
I start my challenge today praying for all those I know who are affected. God keeps your memories and identities safe. You are not lost in him. 

Thank you to my Sponsors

£130

Sponsor Form

£33

Glennis

Keep up the good work ladies. Praying your ankle heals quickly Bobbie.

£33

Anonymous

£20

Denise Mills

From Denise, mother-in-law

£20

Anonymous

£19

Henry Robson

£10

Andrew Furness

£10

Sarah Dawes