THERE isn’t long until the 2016 Memory Walk in aid of Alzheimer Scotland and one woman has shared her story to get other people involved.

Alison spoke about her grandfather and how taking part in the walk last year helped her.

She said: “I, along with my family, completed the Ayrshire Memory Walk 2015, as my grandfather had been diagnosed with dementia only a few months before. Like many people, we would try to do our part for charity, but it isn’t until something touches your life so dramatically that you begin to have an awareness. It was through our support networks that we first became aware of the Memory Walk.

“Our grandfather was diagnosed with vascular dementia in June 2015. He was a quiet, gentle man, and as a family we watched as this horrible disease ripped away the memories of the life he once had. While we never want his life to be represented by the dementia, we wanted to do something that could repay the amazing care that he received from the staff and carers of his unit in Caledonia Care Home in Saltcoats.

“Completing the walk this year will be so bittersweet as we lost my grandfather in December 2015. On completion of the walk last year, we all went to see him at the care home, which is where our JustGiving page photo was taken. We all still miss him every day.

“His legacy will be not the disease that he suffered with, but the daughters, granddaughters, and great granddaughters that complete this walk in his name.”

If you would like to support them, visit justgiving.com/Templeton-family or to join them on the walk, go to http://memorywalksscotland.org/our-walks/ayrshire-memory-walk/. You can also follow them on Facebook at alzscotayrshire.