We did it! - Memory Walk for Alzheimer's Society

Hello Everyone!

So as many of you know, last weekend I participated in the annual 'Memory Walk' for the Alzheimer's Society in Oxford, as my 'good deed' for September. The fundraising event was a 10k walk around Oxford University Parks with a group of people, who just like you, wanted to support and raise awareness for Alzheimer's disease. Instead of describing how green the trees were, and how blue the lake was, I thought it would be much more interesting to share with you all some of my pictures of the day!

We started the day with a little 'warm up' walk to the University Parks, upon which we got very excited, and slightly hyper...not the best state to be in minutes before a 10k walk!

             
I took 'Stitch' with us in my rucksack as a lucky mascot for the challenge ahead. From participating in a charity run earlier this year, I knew that little things like a lucky mascot in someone's bag, or an 'I'm running for..' poster on someone's back could keep your spirits up, and make you continue with the challenge. Besides, it's nice to carry something with you that reminds you that although the day is for a heartbreaking cause, you are walking for positivity, strength, and to make a difference.

                 

When we arrived at the event, we approached the centre of the 'base', where there was a white tree, with white tags and pens. On this tree, people participating in the event could hang tags with dedications, memories, and sayings inspired by people close to them who are suffering, or have suffered from the disease. Although it was sad reading some of the things written on the tags hung on the tree, and realising just how many individuals were affected by Alzheimer's disease, it also gave so many people support and comfort knowing they were not alone, and determination for the challenge ahead.

             

The blue ribbon was cut, and we started the 10k walk with high spirits (thanks to Stitch!) and a feeling of determination and purpose after hearing some stories from people on the main stage who spoke about their experiences of Alzheimer's disease, and how the Alzheimer's Society had helped them.

The picture on the right here was taken seconds after she tripped over a rock...10 steps into the walk!   

                     


Half way through the walk, and we were definitely appreciating Stitch's ability to keep spirits high. We took comedic pictures, ate bananas, and gave piggy-backs in order to spur ourselves on, all of which were fuelled by our continual ability to make each other laugh instantly no matter the situation!

Overall, the day was definitely one I will never forget. It was so comforting to see so many people who had experienced or were experiencing the same as you, all coming together in order to embrace their situation, and using it to make a difference to others affected by Alzheimer's disease. Lastly, I would just like to thank everyone who donated money, in order to sponsor our participation in the Alzheimer's Society annual 'Memory Walk.' Throughout the event, you saw, experienced, or heard about so many ways in which the money raised would help those with Alzheimer's Disease, and anyone who contributes anything to this worthy cause should feel responsible for the amazing work the Alzheimer's Society is able to do because of your contributions.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how my 'good deed' for September went, and all of my memories of the day!
See you in early October to find out what my 'good deed' for the month will be.

Be good!

Kizzy

September - Memory Walk for Alzheimer's Society

Hello Everyone,

Welcome back to the 1st official month of the '12 Months of Giving' project!

Firstly, I'd just like to quickly thank everyone who has shown even the slightest interest in this idea, and for each of the supportive 'likes' and messages! I hope that through this project, we can achieve amazing things, and it means so much that you all are as excited about it as I am.

As I said (well...wrote!) in my first post, I intend to write 2 posts on here per month; the first about the charity or cause, and the 'good deed' of the month, and the second about how the 'good deed' went, and what it entailed. So, (as I hope is made obvious by that some what brief, but precise explanation!) this post will be all about my plans for September; what I'm getting up to, why I am doing it, and, most importantly, who it will help.

From a fairly early age, the concept of growing older, and eventually losing parts of your memory was quite a surreal, yet apparent idea to me. I always assumed that eventually I'd be in my 80's, and maybe forget a word or two from my favourite song, or forget to get the pint of milk that was on my list at the shop. However, although forgetting little things like this is some what inconvenient, they did not necessarily change or compromise my many other visualisations of myself in 60, 70 years time, nor did it even slightly affect those around me. Of course, these very hopeful, exaggerated, and slightly naive, assumptions of being older definitely became more realistic as I got older. However, it was not until more recent years, (and by that I mean a couple!) that I was able to not only understand the changes getting older brings, but experience the affects of these changes first hand. I was able to realise and experience how severe memory loss affects not only an individual's ability to reminisce with friends and family, but their ability to be independent, hold a conversation, show large amounts of emotion, connect with others, have confidence, explain their thoughts, or recognise people close to them. Before having a direct experience through someone close to me with the Alzheimer's disease, I had no idea the struggles and hardships a severe case of memory loss can have on the individual and their loved ones.

Therefore, as this month's 'good deed', I am participating in the 'Alzheimer's Society's Memory Walk' on Sunday 14th September, in Oxford.

The 'Alzheimer's Society' is an organisation that aims to improve the lives of individuals affected by dementia in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The organisation offers information, guidance, and support for individuals with dementia, and their families. They offer a wide range of resources and services for anyone and everyone affected by dementia from 'Alzheimer's cafes', where individuals can meet others who are in their position, whether it be living with dementia, or caring for someone who is, to memory-book projects, where individuals with dementia can use pictures and different visual aids from their own personal memory book, in order to enhance their memory and help them to develop conversations.
If you do not know about the 'Alzheimer's Society' already, or have limited knowledge on what exactly 'Alzheimer's disease' is, and what the organisation does to help individuals who are affected by it, I would urge you to visit their website by clicking this link, and have a look at the kind of things they do:
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/index.php

I am continually amazed at the work the 'Alzheimer's Society' does for individuals with all different types of dementia and their families, and as someone who has experienced the heartbreaking challenges of Alzheimer's disease, I definitely appreciate everything they do to improve the quality of life for someone with dementia. With a disease such as Alzheimer's, the symptoms that the individual experiences are so unique and personal to every case. Therefore, it is so important to have a organisation, such as the 'Alzheimer's Society' that shows every individual and every carer affected by dementia, that they are not experiencing the challenges of the disease alone, and that they are supported.

Appreciating this, the idea of participating in a sponsored walk for the 'Alzheimer's Society', in order to help with research and work that benefits anyone affected by the disease, was the perfect way to show these same individuals that however hard to cope with the disease seems, they will always have support and strength given to them by others.

My aim for this month, and this particular event is to raise as much money as I can for the 'Alzheimer's Society', in order to help them carry on the brilliant work they do, and support anyone and everyone affected by dementia. Therefore, it would be great for you, and everyone that you know, to donate any amount of money you can in order to make this event really worthwhile. You can donate by clicking this link: 
https://www.justgiving.com/keziah-memory-walk
Please feel free to share this link to all your family and friends, even if it is to simply spread awareness of the 'Alzheimer's Society'!

Once again, I hope you like this idea, and can show support for this very worthwhile cause in any way that you can! The 'good deed' for each month will not always be a sponsored event, or one that asks for donations. However, I thought it would be really beneficial to start off the 12 months with an event that will really make a big difference, and contributes to showing large amounts of support to people who, like all of us at some point, may need a little reassuring, and a little pat on the back for being amazing! 
Thank you again for your support, and I will see you later this month, with a new post featuring some pictures from the event (yes kids, we're getting snazzy!)

Be good!

Kizzy :)