Fight dementia with a Sunday stroll in Leicester

The people of Leicester are taking steps to improve dementia services in the city this weekend, as they embark on a Memory Walk to raise money.

Some 150 people will walk two-and-a-half miles through Abbey Park on Sunday, in a bid to raise funds to fight the disease.

The event, organised by the Alzheimer’s Society, is one of dozens of Memory Walks taking place across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

People can attend the walks free of charge, and the money raised will help support local dementia sufferers and their carers.

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Now in its 11th year, Memory Walk is Alzheimer’s Society’s flagship fundraising event, which sees walks taking place throughout September.

This year the event is being held in partnership with Bupa Care Homes. Together, the two organisations aim to support more people living with dementia through the funds that are raised.

Alzheimer’s Society says £35 could allow a person with dementia to receive a one hour befriending session with a volunteer, while £104 could enable callers from anywhere in the country to call the national Alzheimer's Society Dementia Helpline each week at their local rate.

The Leicester walks kick off on Sunday at 12 noon, starting at the bandstand in Abbey Park, Leicester. Pets are welcome, and the route is ideal for both families and individuals.

Online registration for the walk is now closed, but people can still sign up by turning up on the day at 10am.

Alzheimer's Society supports people living with dementia, and funds research to find a cure. It relies on voluntary donations to continue its work.

One in three people over the age of 65 will die with dementia.

Symptoms of dementia include loss of memory, confusion and problems with speech and understanding.

Dementia is progressive, which means the symptoms will gradually get worse. How fast dementia progresses will depend on the individual person and what type of dementia they have.

Alzheimer’s Society research shows 800,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia - more than half have Alzheimer’s disease.

In less than 10 years a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051, the research shows.

To donate to the Alzheimer’s Society, call 0845 306 0898, or alzheimers.org.uk.

The Society also provides a National Dementia Helpline, which can be contacted on 0845 300 0336.

To find out more about the Leicester walk, including details of how to get to Abbey Park, visit www.memorywalk.org.uk.