Login
Login

Martin Hogg

Walk 31 Miles in May 2026

Help me reach my goal of £100

Join the Facebook group for Walk 31 miles in May challenge.

I'm walking 31 Miles in May for Dementia UK

It may not be the most athletically demanding for many, but this May, I'm walking 31 Miles and raising funds and 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.

Dementia , in all it's forms, really sucks and affects everyone around the individual.

Thank you!

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

£236 + £59 GiftAid

My Goal

£100

Select amount to donate

£19
£33
£50
£69
£
Donate

All payments are secure & encrypted

My Achievements

Shared Page

Updated Profile Pic

Added a Blog Post

You've Self Donated!

Received 5 Donations

Reached Fundraising Goal

Increased Target Over £250

My Updates

On journeys...

Wednesday 27th May
I suspect that this might be the last update as we’re fast approaching the end of May. But my morning walk journey, much like our dementia journey, is ongoing.
I’ve been reflecting on ‘journeys’ - often a little cliché term I know, but I’m finding symmetry again. I’ve changed my daily routine, the act of physically moving forward each morning has an interesting effect, and it’s not about the steps.. ‘optic flow’ is a new concept to me but makes a lot of sense. Corny, I know, but in a larger sense, this change is also part of my own ‘journey’ through life, navigating change.
We often talk about Mum’s ‘journey’ (with dementia specifically) and try to work out when it started. Spotting and diagnosing dementia is such a fine art! When do things like a little loss of memory, or struggling with gadgets become warning signs? Mum always muddled up names anyway, just like her mum.. don’t we all have these moments?
Now, in hindsight, we can spot very specific moments and symptoms that were perhaps clear indicators that something bigger was happening, but I think we also must allow ourselves the grace of not feeling guilty for not seeing them at the time.  I think my wife was the first to voice the possibility, and I’m sure to an extent I probably dismissed it, maybe that was denial?
Even with the experience we’ve quickly gained, I don’t know how prepared we are for what’s next.. we have an idea of what the next ‘stages’ are likely to be, reading up on Lewy bodies ‘journeys’, it’s not particularly encouraging to be honest, but at least we are less likely to be taken by surprise if that’s the direction things go. For now, sadly, it’s almost a waiting game to see what happens next.
I guess to close, I’d say thank you for supporting me with this, we haven’t needed to turn to anyone like Dementia UK to support us (yet), we’ve mostly navigated this journey ourselves so far.. but this is such a life-changing thing, that can and does happen to anyone, so having that support there if you need it is vital.

Changing times.. a ramble

Sunday 10th May
So, just over a week in officially and I was thinking 'what's worth reflecting on?' turns out, that actually my head has been full of reflections since I started doing this back in April.. honestly sometimes it's almost too much head-noise! I can't quite describe what it is, but there has been something significant about the connections between mental health.. it's decline and the process of aging, and the simple act of walking and listening to nature.. Giving myself the space each morning to connect with the birds and the trees has made me realise how little of that I do these days, and how much I need to do it.. and got me thinking about the advice that 'keeping active' mentally and physically can help to stave off dementia?  Is that true? I don't know. 
One key observation this week.. Although Mum's dementia has impacted me directly for a while now,  it's been in very practical ways so far - fixing stuff, organising stuff, keeping her safe.. and it's brought stress for me as well as for her.. but what I've started to feel lately, and maybe it's because I am taking this time to 'tune out' as I stride through the park in the morning.. is that it's actually making me sad now too. Sad for the loss that's happened, and for the loss that's still to come. . 
Not a very uplifting post, and a little self-indulgent, so please forgive that! On a positive note, I am truly grateful and touched by the support and sponsorship I've received so far, so thank you and.. I had no idea that there willow warblers and white throats in my local park ,but now I do, and hearing them sing brings proper joy! 

Day 1

Friday 1st May
As I was walking this morning, I was trying to think of something poignant and moving about our experience with Dementia.. but honestly, I was struggling to find an uplifting note! Our visit with Mum a couple of days ago reminded me how far we've come already, how much of the person we knew has already left. I did think about my own perception of dementia.. when I was younger, assuming it was typically a happy ignorance, a loss of memories and a retreat into self.. the reality, for us at least, is far more nuanced and honestly cruel.. paranoia and worry are far bigger players than I'd anticipated sadly.  BUT.. amongst all this rather gloomy ruminating.. I used the moment to focus on the 'now'.. mindfulness I guess.. the birds were in full song and the sun was shining, and although it's  a small thing, the steps I'm taking feel like more positive ones! 

Starting..

Sunday 12th Apr
I've been working from home for the last few years.. and recently really not moving enough. I'm trying to adjust my daily routine , starting with a few simple changes - start the day with a glass of water, no coffee or breakfast until I've been out for a walk, and not picking up that phone! My circuit is almost exactly one mile, so good preparation for May. I'm walking without headphones.. it's spring and the birds have a lot to say! 
Being the main 'responsible person' for my Mum as dementia has taken hold over the last couple of years has been demanding. It's so easy to get caught up in dealing with each new situation, taking on more an more of the decision making and 'fixing', it's almost easy to lose sight of the 'before' - we don't have the same conversations any more, understanding and versions of reality shift before you know it. Lewy Bodies is a particularly cruel form of dementia (they all suck) , bringing a lot of worry and fear with it. I doubt my contribution will make a huge difference, but it's a positive  step in a field of never-ending backward steps! 

Thank you to my Sponsors

£33

Tony

£31

Colin Dunkley

Resonates! Privilege to support you

£20

Rob Macklam

£15

Anonymous

£15

Jane

Great cause Martin, so many people are having to try and cope with this horrible illness.

£10

Jane Ferreira

Such a great cause Martin, hope the sunshine continues x

£10

Morgan

£10

Olivia Kennedy

£10

James Woodward

£10

Kate

£10

Jen P

All the best.

£10

Valerie Gould

I know how it feels due looking after my mum when she had Alzheimers.

£10

Nicola Shaw

Good luck with the challenge 💙

£10

Helen

Good luck Martin. Excellent charity to support x

£10

Chris

£7

Anonymous

£5

Nigel Callahan

£5

Anonymous

Well done Martin

£5

Jo Hackney

Well done Martin and a worthy cause.