A Tramore teacher whose family has experienced first-hand the challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia has issued a heartfelt appeal for people across Waterford to take part in this year’s Alzheimer’s Memory Walk.
Blathnaid Britt (Prenter) and her family will be among those taking part in the walks on Sunday, September 20th, in aid of Alzheimer’s Ireland.
For Blathnaid, the reasons for supporting the event are deeply personal.
Her father, Ray Prenter, a former school principal in Tramore, is living with dementia and is supported by Pinegrove Day Care Centre in Waterford. He also receives support through Waterford Healing Arts at University Hospital Waterford.
Two Memory Walks are taking place in Waterford on the day, both beginning at 11am.
The Waterford City walk will travel from Pinegrove Day Care Centre to the People’s Park, while those living further west in the county can take part in a walk beginning at Causeway Tennis Club in Abbeyside.
A Family Learning to Navigate Dementia
Blathnaid says the guidance, advice and support received from Alzheimer’s Ireland has been invaluable to her family as they learned how best to care for and support Ray.
Without that help, she says, they would not have known where to turn or what to do.
The family’s circumstances became even more difficult three years ago when Blathnaid’s late mother, Bridie, who had been Ray’s primary carer, received the shock diagnosis of an aggressive form of cancer.
Suddenly, the family found themselves dividing their care and support between both parents while also navigating the emotional challenges that came with serious illness, dementia and eventually grief.
Through that experience, Blathnaid says the family came to understand just how important organisations and charities can be for people facing some of life’s most difficult moments.
As well as the support they received from Alzheimer’s Ireland, the family also experienced the importance of services such as the Solas Cancer Support Centre.
‘You Are Not Alone’
Now, Blathnaid hopes that as many people as possible will lace up their walking shoes and join one of the Waterford Memory Walks on September 20th.
She hopes the event will not only raise vital funds and awareness but will also remind families affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s that they are not alone.
For many people caring for loved ones, the experience can feel isolating, but coming together with others who have shared similar experiences can offer enormous comfort and strength.
Blathnaid hopes the Memory Walk will help increase awareness of the impact dementia has on individuals and families while also celebrating the services, carers, communities and organisations that provide essential support.
Each year, Blathnaid and her family take part in the sea of orange that is the Run and Walk for Solas in aid of the Solas Cancer Support Centre. Additionally, this year the Britt and Prenter family will be walking together in recognition of the support that has helped them through an extraordinarily difficult number of years.
The Alzheimer’s Ireland Memory Walk takes place on Sunday, September 20th at 11am, with walks beginning at Pinegrove Day Care Centre in Waterford City and Causeway Tennis Club in Abbeyside.
Play to listen back to Blathnaid’s full conversation on The Big Breakfast Blaa.
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