TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD Winsford woman Emma Gelsthorpe is urging other families to join her to fight back at dementia when she takes on the first Alzheimer Society’s Cheshire Memory Walk.

Emma will be completing the walk at Delamere Forest on Saturday, September 24, to raise money for a world without dementia in memory of her grandad.

Emma’s grandad George was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia around the age of 75 when she was in high school and died in February 2014.

“Grandad slowly started to deteriorate, first of all with hallucinations and then eventually not being able to remember who people were,” Emma said.

“My nan became his full time carer, as he was unable to look after himself towards the end. To see someone who has been the rock in your family and you love dearly fade away is one of the most heart-breaking experiences ever, especially for me going through this throughout my teenage years.

“I think it is important to take part in the memory walk to raise awareness of all the different forms of dementia and get as much money as possible to try and support all of the people who have and are still living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Most importantly though, you should always remember the love they gave in times when they could no longer remember, to keep their memory alive.”

Alzheimer’s Society is encouraging local residents to rally around family members of all ages – from grandparents to grandchildren – and take part in the event.

People of all ages and abilities can sign up to take part in the Cheshire Memory Walk to raise money to help the charity support the 21,325 people living with dementia in Cheshire and fund the search for a cure.

Ashley Dodd, regional community fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society in Cheshire, said: “Memory Walk is a great opportunity for all generations of every family to turn the tide and step out together to walk for a world without dementia. We know that what’s good for the heart is good for the head, and regular exercise is one of the best ways of helping to reduce your risk of developing dementia.

“Without people like Emma we couldn’t continue the work we do to find a cure for dementia. Every person, every pound, every step will bring us closer.”

To sponsor Emma go to her Just Giving page at justgiving.com/account/your-pages/MW16emmagelsthorpe From the money raised £100 would allow someone with dementia to attend ten Singing for the Brain sessions, £20 would cover a month’s attendance at an Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Café.