My Story

On February 5th of this year, Maureen Shaw - Niamh’s grandma and my mum – died as a result of vascular dementia.

My mum was a funny, kind, loving woman with a massive appetite for life. She lived with vascular dementia for many years, and whilst she retained her humour and her kindness, it stripped her of so many important things, including her voice.

In honour of our mum and grandma, Niamh and I are planning to walk the Three Yorkshire Peaks at the start of August, climbing Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in less than 24 hours. The walk covers a distance of 26 miles, with 5,249 feet of ascent and descent.

We’re raising money for Living Words, a registered charity which works with people with dementia to supports free speech and expression by

- working with individuals who have dementia – creating poetry, personalised word books and anthologies.

- working with staff in care homes / hospitals and family carers – improving wellbeing through creative expression and reflection; individually tailored approaches.

- creating their own work to be visible in the arts and wider media to challenge perceptions of dementia, to increase understanding and to promote integration.

Please consider making a donation in memory of a lovely woman, and in support of this important, transformative work.

Thank you!