Walking The Distance For Alzheimer’s Society

Colleagues at Care UK’s central support centre Annabelle Matthews and Amy Mitchell – both Resourcing Advisors – and Emma Honeyball, who works in the finance team as a Billing Controller, – came together to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society by participating in a Memory Walk. The three women met while working at Care UK, with Annabelle and Emma having been school friends and having known each other for 24 years.

The trio walked 7km together in memory of their loved ones at Chelmsford’s October Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walk.

They all have individual connections to dementia and Alzheimer’s. Annabelle’s grandad Brian sadly passed away from dementia; Amy’s grandma – also named Amy – was diagnosed with dementia when Amy was a child, and her partner’s grandmother was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia before sadly passing in 2018. Emma’s great-grandmother Doris also lived with dementia.  Annabelle said: “As dementia has played a big part in all of our lives, we wanted to do something to raise money to support a cause close to our hearts. It’s amazing that Care UK has matched our donation!”

A Memory Walk is an incredible way to reflect and remember in the presence of strangers who understand the complex emotions that can accompany your loved one living with dementia or Alzheimer’s. The Memory Walks are a series of free sponsored walks, which are open to all. They are held in September and October across the UK.

Having asked family, friends, and colleagues to sponsor their walk, the trio raised a total of £995. They later applied for Care UK’s Matched Funding scheme, which matches colleagues’ fundraising efforts up to £1,000. With the additional funding approved, their final donation to Alzheimer’s Society was £1,900.