Claire Turner

Today, 1st May, I begin something that means more to me than I can fully put into words.

Over the next 31 days, I’ll be walking 31 miles to raise funds for Dementia UK, but this isn’t just a challenge… it’s something deeply personal.

I’m doing this for my dad.

My dad is, and always will be, one of the most important people in my life. He is kind, strong, supportive, and someone who has always been there for our family. The one you turn to for advice, for reassurance, for a laugh. The constant.

But dementia has changed that.

Watching him live with this disease is heartbreaking. It’s not just memory loss, it’s the gradual loss of the person you’ve always known. Conversations aren’t the same. There are moments of confusion, of frustration, of sadness… and the hardest part is feeling so helpless as it unfolds.

It’s devastating to see someone so wonderful go through something so cruel.

And yet, through it all, he is still my dad. Still deeply loved. Still deserving of the very best care, support, and dignity.

That’s why this matters.

Dementia UK provides specialist Admiral Nurses who support families like ours,  offering guidance, understanding, and reassurance when it’s needed most. Their work makes such a difference during some of the hardest times.

So today, I take the first step. One mile a day, for my dad, and for every family facing dementia.

If you’re able to support,  whether by donating or simply sharing this, it would mean so much to me.

Because no family should have to face dementia alone.

💜