Family and friends stage Memory Walk for Alzheimer's Society

Kathryn Bailey organised a fundraising walk with her sister Tracey Hornby in memory of their grandfather Reg Manley, who died in December at the age of 82.

Mr Manley had Alzheimer’s, and the seven-mile walk started from the Old Broken Cross pub at Northwich and finished at the Big Lock pub at Middlewich.

The Memory Walk involved 23 women, who gained sponsorship support for the event in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.

The walk was organised as part of a series of Memory Walks which took place last month across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to raise money for the charity.

Walks took place in Manchester and Liverpool, and the women taking part in the local walk wore Alzheimer’s Society t-shirts sporting the phrase ‘I’m walking for a world without dementia’.

Kathryn, from Middlewich, is a receptionist at Oaklands Medical Centre in Middlewich, and Tracey, from Middlewich, owns Colorz hair salon in Middlewich.

“The women who took part were family and friends, and we walked along the canal towpath,” said Tracey.

“It took just over two hours, and was very successful.

“We raised £525 from a raffle at the Big Lock, and with the sponsorship money which is due to come in hope to have raised £800.”

The walkers included Tracey’s mum Rita Kelly and Tracey’s daughter Jasmine.

“We were walking in memory of my lovely grandad, who passed away in December and suffered from Alzheimer’s, which is an horrendous condition, so the Alzheimer’s Society is very close to our hearts and to a lot of others with the condition," added Tracey.

“We would like to thank everyone who took part and supported us, and the businesses and people who donated raffle prizes.”

The walk took place on Sunday, October 4, and the route took walkers along the Trent and Mersey canal towpath.

The number of people with dementia in the UK is forecast to increase to more than one million by 2025 and more than two million by 2051.