Ben Francis

Doing It for G.

This One’s for Grandad: Taking on a Charity Golf Day for Dementia UK

I’m taking part in a charity golf day to raise money for Dementia UK — a cause that has become incredibly personal to me and my family.

My grandad, Geoff, is currently living in a care home with dementia. But dementia isn’t what defines him.

Grandad has always been fun, caring and someone who loves making us laugh. He’s also always had a mischievous side — forever getting himself into some sort of trouble and leaving us with plenty of stories to tell.

That’s the Geoff we know and love, and that’s the Grandad I think of.

Watching someone you love live with dementia is incredibly difficult. It affects not only the person themselves, but the whole family around them. There are good days, difficult days and those precious moments when you see that familiar personality shine through.

Taking part in this golf day is my opportunity to turn something incredibly difficult into something positive.

By raising money for Dementia UK, I’ll be helping them continue their work supporting people living with dementia and the families alongside them through their specialist Admiral Nurses.

And behind every person living with dementia is their own story.

They’re grandads like Geoff. They’re mums, dads, grandparents, husbands, wives and friends. People who have spent their lives making memories, making people laugh and, in Grandad’s case, probably getting themselves into a little bit of mischief along the way.

That’s who I’ll be thinking about when I step onto the golf course.

And knowing Geoff, he’d probably have something to say about my golf swing too!

I’m hoping to raise as much as I possibly can for Dementia UK and, if sharing a little bit of Grandad’s story can help another family get the support they need, then it will make taking part even more worthwhile.

This one’s for you, Geoff. ❤️