Ashleigh

Why I’m doing this 💗

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll probably already know that my Nan is incredibly special to me, so dementia is something that’s really close to my heart.

She’s been living with dementia for over 8 years now, and I don’t think you can truly understand how hard it is until someone you love is going through it. Watching someone you love change is heartbreaking, but I think one of the hardest parts is also the fear of the unknown and not knowing what the future will look like.

I’ve always tried my best to focus on the positives rather than the negatives and appreciate what we still have. There’s so much dementia has taken, but there’s also so much it hasn’t. Her kindness, her humour, the way she tells me I’m her girl, and most importantly, the love we still have for each other. 💗

Going through this has also made me realise just how important support is, not only for the person living with dementia, but for the whole family around them. It can feel incredibly lonely and overwhelming at times, and nobody should have to navigate something like this feeling like they’re on their own.

That’s why this October I’m walking 62 miles for Dementia UK, to raise money and awareness so that more people and families affected by dementia can get the support they need when they need it most.

I’ve set myself a goal of £250, and every donation, share or bit of support genuinely means so much.

This one’s for you, Nan.