Hooray for Harewood! TV's Charlie Webster steps out at stately ...

Television presenter Charlie Webster launched the first ever Harewood House Memory Walk.

Hundreds of people are being urged to sign up at www.memorywalk.org.uk for the Alzheimer's Society event which is designed to attract interest across Yorkshire.

Volunteers wearing walk T-shirts joined Charlie at the 18th Century historic house to kick-start sign-ups for a choice of a 2km stroll or 10km stretch.

Sky Sports News broadcaster Charlie, who has also worked with ITV, the BBC and Channel 4, said:

'Having seen my nan's dementia go from mild to moderate and into severe as quickly as you can click your fingers, I know how important it is to take part in Memory Walk.

My Nan had such a fun personality, very quick-witted with a naughty sense of humour, especially for her age. She walked and climbed with my granddad, they even had a motorbike and sidecar!'

After her granddad died, Charlie's nan's dementia became more obvious, most poignantly when she would leave notes for him as if he had just popped out to a local caf?.

Charlie said:

'Nan would forget to eat. The illness also completely knocked her confidence, she didn't go out and she'd suffer panic attacks when she did.

As a family, we were totally new to the illness and struggled for help. My mum contacted Alzheimer's Society and received counselling. The support was so helpful to her. Having someone to talk to made her feel that she wasn't having to cope alone.

There are about 25,500 people in West Yorkshire living with dementia and the way it impacts on their lives, and those of their families, is so often devastating. Everyone who joins me at Harewood House Memory Walk on 1 September will be raising vital funds to support them, their carers and local services.'

Supporters of the walk, being held by Alzheimer's Society in partnership with Bupa Care Homes, include former Leeds pub landlady Christine Bailey.

Christine, of East End Park, who with her husband Paul ran the White Horse, was diagnosed with vascular dementia four years ago at the age of 50.

She noticed something wrong having returned home following a major operation when she had been critically ill and spent time in a coma.

Christine, who hopes people will turn out in force for the Harewood House walk, said:

'I wasn't remembering things, silly things. I went to the shops and forgot what I'd gone for. Instead of putting my purse in my handbag I put it in the fridge freezer.'

Two years after my mum had passed away I wanted to give her a call ? I'd forgotten she had died. It was like losing her all over again. It was horrible. I thought I was too young to have dementia ? I thought it was something that happened to older people. I didn't realise young people could have the condition'

Christine, a regular visitor to the Armley Grange Day Centre, run by Alzheimer's Society for people with early onset dementia, said.

'The centre is fantastic ? you are given so much support. I don't think I could cope without it.'

Memory Walk's move to Harewood House follows five years of the event being held in the centre of Leeds. Alzheimer's Society support services manager Peter Ruickbie, said:

'Memory Walk has grown over the years and is a huge awareness raising event as well as an important fundraiser. We are looking forward to some good weather at a great new venue!'

?Thanks to the backing of Bupa Care Homes, Alzheimer?s Society is able to raise even more money to support people with dementia.'

Tracey Robinson, Home Manager of Bupa's Park Avenue Nursing Home, said:

'This is the third year that Bupa's care homes have helped deliver the Harewood House Memory Walk, to provide valuable support for people who are living with dementia. That's why our staff, who care for people with the condition, will be getting behind the walk this September and encouraging our residents' families and friends, who have been personally affected by the condition, to get walking to raise valuable funds.'

Source: http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=1676

april 17 tu pac hologram shuttle pippa middleton space shuttle discovery spacex tupac hologram