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Billie Patterson

100K in February

Help me reach my goal of £500

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I'm running 100K for Dementia UK in honour of my dad ♥️

This February, I'm running 100K 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. Just £8 can cover the telephone costs for two families seeking support through Dementia UK's free Helpline. £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

Raised

£467 + £32.50 GiftAid

My Goal

£500

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My Updates

♥️♥️

Thursday 30th Jan
Just over two years ago we were given the devastating news that our dad had been diagnosed with an alcohol induced dementia. Over night I turned into my dad’s career but whilst doing this I was also a first time mum trying to raise my 1 year old son plus still going to work. This had a massive impact on my own mental health and I was well aware of what would eventually happen, and it greatly increased my anxiety and depression. Since we were kids our dad always loved a drink but he was the most loving, caring father I could have ever wished for. There wasn’t one weekend he ever missed having us and I will cherish the amazing memories he gave us ♥️ 

My dad’s health  started to deteriorate when his wife passed away from cancer in 2018. After being sober from alcohol for years he turned back to the bottle and was hiding the alcohol from me, but when tidying up in the morning I would find the empty bottles hidden behind pillows or at the back of the sofa. Me and my partner took our son away for his second birthday but when we returned home my dad wasn’t the same and was severely ill. He had a huge bash on his head and said he had fallen over. I ended up calling an ambulance which took him into hospital and he ended up being there for a week. When I went to visit him he did not look like my father, his eyes looked cloudy and he was confused about everything. I spoke to the doctor and he assured me everything was fine and that dad could come home and in a few days he would be back to his normal self. But my dad’s memory never recovered. It took over a year to get his diagnosis.

Months passed with 1-2 weekly appointments at the doctors or hospitals which I would also have to take my son to. I had no time for myself to socialise, spend time with my partner or son and I would feel guilty if I did take an extra 10 minutes in the bath. I started having panic attacks and heart palpitations which I have never recovered from. My dad wouldn’t come out from his room,  not to even make food. I would have to make him meals everyday otherwise he wouldn’t eat. He turned suspicious of me and my partner and would accuse us of hiding hammers and knifes in his room thinking we were trying to hurt him and take things from his room. I would have calls from family members accusing me of neglecting my father which lead to them calling social services on me which was the most heart breaking experience I have ever been through. My dad also believed that my son was actually his son, I would go to bed most nights scared in case my dad wondered off with him in the night. But through all the stress and pain I was going through I just wanted my dad to be ok! 

My dad was diagnosed with an alcohol induced dementia at just 52 years of age. Luckily dad is now stable but living  in an assisted living accommodation with caregivers on site. I feel like so many years have been snatched away from us but I’m forever grateful for the remaining years we have left with him. If anyone in your family is suffering from alcoholism/dementia please don’t leave them to get on with it, quit trying to make sense of dementia and start helping the one that has it by being there for them the best you can. 

One thing I have learnt since his diagnosis is to just live in the moment with him. You have to just be yourself even if they have asked you the same question 10 times in a row. As difficult as it may be, patience is virtue. 

Me and my family are extremely grateful for all your donations for this amazing charity!  If anyone is going through the same thing and would like someone to speak to please reach out and send me a message 🫶🏽

Thank you to my Sponsors

£40

Gemma & Leigh X

£40

Anonymous

Smashed it girllllll! Proud of you 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽

£33

Sophie Hamilton

Love you xoxo

£20

Lyle Patterson

£20

James Oldfield

£20

Anonymous

Love nan and grandad ♥️

£20

Abbey Cook

Good luck bill! Hope Troy is okay, sending my love xxx

£20

Denise

A lovely gesture Billie, you go girl Dad will be so proud of you 👏 🥰

£20

Kirsty Jones

Well Done Billie, What an amazing cause

£20

Lyn

You’ve got this Billy, go girl!

£15

Rhia X

Keep going Billie we are all so proud of you

£15

Josh

You have smashed it girl 💪🏻💪🏻

£15

Billie Young

£15

Anonymous

You should be extremely proud of yourself!

£15

Trish

£15

Rhia

So incredibly proud of you

£10

Finn Duffy

£10

Anonymous

Supporting you... Always ❤️

£10

Vivi

£10

Bipana Thapa

Good luck Billie! ❤️

£10

Georgie

Well done billie xx

£10

Martha Bishop

£10

Harley Peckham

£10

Sarah Mansfield

Well done Billie, proud of you 👏🏽 xxx

£10

Joe Page

Very proud!

£10

Jade Melhuish

Proud of you Billie♥️

£10

Kiddo

Go on Bill!💪🏻🏃🏻‍♀️‍➡️

£5

Katie Louth

So proud of you ❤️

£5

Shangyu Guo

Dear Billie, I am sorry to hear that your dad was diagnosed with dementia and my grandmother has a same diagnosis as well and I hope this 5 pound will be helpful because I can't help much

£3.53

Benjamin Oastler