Bridport woman fundraiser for Dementia UK Admiral Nurses

Sue Wheeler, 51, from Bridport is hoping to complete the Dementia UK ‘Walk 30 miles in September’ challenge.

Throughout the month, Miss Wheeler, a holistic therapist, is raising money to support the charity's own Admiral nurses, a free resource offered by Dementia UK to give specialist support in emotional and practical ways, to both patients and their supporters.

Sue Wheeler will be walking a mile a day as part of the Dementia UK challenge (Image: Sue Wheeler) Miss Wheeler, said: “Both my father and my father-in-law were diagnosed with dementia, and Admiral Nurses have been very supportive through their care in later life - they are such a good charity.

“This is something practical I can do to help a charity close to my heart, it’s important to raise awareness as this illness affects so many people, everyone will know someone who has it, and one in six people over 85 are affected. 

“It’s close to a lot of people in their family life, and a lot of people have the affinity for supporting the charity."

After already completing the first few challenges in wet and windy conditions, Miss Wheeler, said: “It was a miserable first day but we walked from Allington to the Red Brick café via Bradpole.”

Sue Wheeler will be walking a mile a day as part of the Dementia UK challenge (Image: Sue Wheeler) Speaking about how much she is looking to raise, she said: “I was surprised already to have received £130 before I began the challenge.

"I am hoping for £150 and I would be really happy with that. I’ve just been blown away by what has been donated already.”

Talking about what has motivated her to attempt the challenge, Miss Wheeler said: “I walk a lot anyway, but I’m hoping it will give me the motivation to get fitter, as it is not something I would do normally. There is also a social aspect to it where I encourage my friends to walk with me.”

Research from Dementia UK estimates that 850,000 lives are affected by dementia, which Miss Wheeler says leads to families becoming carers, struggling to look after their relative and deal with the physical and emotional challenges of the condition. There are more than 100 different types of dementia, which includes Alzheimer's.

To sponsor Sue go to her blog at ecoholistics.strikingly.com/blog or visit her Just Giving page on https://shorturl.at/hghxj