Susan Clapham

It's a wrap 🏁🏁🏁

Saturday 31st Jan And just like that, the month of January, (felt by many people to be the longest month of the year.. I totally get that; after Christmas it's hard to get motivated with the cold, dark days/nights continuing) and Dementia UK challenge are over!! So here's the thing, the physical challenge may be over for everyone who has participated. The challenges faced by our loved ones struggling with dementia and their families/carers/friends are ongoing. That's something I won't forget, no, can't forget, no matter what. So here's to the people we love, live with, support, in whatever way; forever in our hearts and on our minds. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me, donated, encouraged or just kept up-to-date with my blogs. Much love 💙🩷 🙏🏻 Share

Where is this month going to?

Friday 23rd Jan Ah, so it's almost two weeks since I updated this fundraising page, in addition to the month of January almost being over... whilst I have neglected to post any updates, I have continued to log my walking and running miles for the challenge.  Share

Storm Goretti what happened to you? And beyond

Sunday 11th Jan Okay so our beloved (not) media had forecast virtual Armageddon for our area..not only that, trains had been cancelled based on the Met Office. Chris and I hardly slept Thursday night, expecting, well, what had been forecast. As a driving examiner, he still has to go to work to accurately assess whether it's safe to conduct driving tests. Living on an estate or side road is quite challenging during wintry conditions.. well, he's fine, confident as he should be. Oh dear, I'm digressing again!! So anyway, meeting up with my friend of 50+ years was kyboshed.. no way were either of us driving to meet up, no trains from Glossop so we parked the idea. I got on with doing some painting in the kitchen but just after midday, decided enough was enough, get out for a walk. Brisk would be putting mildly.. by the time I'd done 13.6 miles out in slippery sliding trails up to Wild bank Trig and back I was completely jiggered, wind battered but yay, getting the miles done ✅. Saturday dawned, freezing, icy underfoot but trains were back in operation 🎉, so hip hip hooray, our twice cancelled trip into Manchester actually happened. Walking (or rather running) to the station cos I was late, again!!! Walking from the station to our lunch destination, the long way around to maximise miles 😁, walk back to the station and then back home from Glossop, accumulated miles 5.15.  So that leaves today (Sunday), I usually walk down to church for the service but guess what? It was raining and I was running late again (there's a recurrent theme here).. Chris dropped me off then came back later for the service (I was on singing duty so had to be there earlier). Anyway, another day working on kitchen transformation then a walk into Old Glossop for the final sung vespers service until the start of Lent, then back home, 4.24 miles bringing total so far since the start of January to 77.79... I've definitely stepped up on the weekly mileage and thankfully seem to be getting stronger 💪🏻. Hooray, here's to all my dear friends and their families who are affected by Dementia.. I'm doing this for you 💙 Share

January 6th to the 8th

Thursday 8th Jan Well it's been a busy few days in our house so I haven't had a chance to blog every day.. let's face it, who wants to read stuff every day anyway right? Share

The snow came to Glossop..

Monday 5th Jan Friday was great, a chilly day in which I managed to get out onto my local hill, the Nab and Cown Edge.. then came my impromptu trip into Manchester by train, a walk around the city, a movie, obligatory trip to Wong Wong Bakery for cake 🍰 and freebie coffee courtesy of Octopus energy. Share

On the hill... beyond the Nab, up onto Cown Edge

Saturday 3rd Jan Blooming heck, it's chilly Share

2nd January 2026

Saturday 3rd Jan There's nothing quite like a crisp, sunny winter's morning for a short blast in the gorgeous local hills of Glossop to not only sweep away the cobwebs, but also get some much needed endorphins. After yet another poor night's sleep compounded with unpleasant stomach issues, I wasn't feeling great until after my run of just over 5 miles. Job done, the day's mission complete ✅ Share

January 1st 2026

Thursday 1st Jan On the first day of the official start to the challenge, I'm virtually a quarter way through the challenge distance at 12.3 enjoyable miles in the fabulous company of my better half Chris and the South Manchester LDWA. Attaching my Dementia UK t-shirt to my rucksack led me to have a few conversations about what I was doing... And guess what? Several people in the group have personal experience of dementia or Alzheimer's within their close family.. no great surprise there. So I've now said goodbye to two of the seven people I'd heard of having a degenerative, incurable brain disease since moving back to Glossop in July, only just over five months ago. Today,  I've added 3 more people to think and pray about, who are also suffering, alongside their family. Every step of this challenge, I'll be doing for these poorly people and their families. I'm doing all I can to help them all, outside of this challenge, visiting, engaging with, just loving them for who they once were and who they now are and showing their families that they're not alone.  Share

OKAY, HERE GOES FOR THE FIRST MONTH OF THE NEW YEAR 2026

Wednesday 31st Dec Well, what a difference 12 months makes eh? Briefly, this time last year I was lost, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, you name it, I was a shell, drifting... missing, existing, disengaged from the world. Living just 2 hours away from our family and everything familiar didn't seem like it would really make much difference. How wrong could that notion have been? In a nutshell, we had to move back home from North Yorkshire, where we had only moved to in December 2023, because it was just a step too far.  Anyway, I'm digressing, as usual. We were already acutely aware of the debilitating, destructive nature of the brain disease Dementia from a personal perspective in that my dear, lovely mum in law, has had vascular dementia for over 9 years already... in that time we have seen her deteriorate gradually, diminished, fragile, unresponsive... and there are many facets to the disease, a range of emotions. If you know, you know.  We also have lost many close friends to the disease. But, since moving back to Glossop, I know so so many people who have been diagnosed with various forms of dementia either recently or have already been suffering for several years (unbeknown to me in many cases).  It is a parasitic illness which affects everyone associated with the sufferer; family, friends, community, work colleagues. It is insidious, it destroys, it breaks hearts, it tears everything apart.  Yeah, it's personal to me and I'm sure it is also personal to many people.  I'll be doing a lot more than 50 miles in support of all those on my heart and constantly on my mind..I can't stand by and do nothing.  I will do whatever I can, either by visiting, enquiring, praying or in walking or running. I'm not doing it for me. I'm doing it for the 7 people I'm already supporting in some way, shape or form (actually now 6 as one has unfortunately recently died). Please help me to support them and others xx Share