Tramore teacher, Blathnaid Britt (Prenter) has issued a heartfelt appeal for people to attend a local Memory Walk in aid of Alzheimers Ireland on Sunday, September 20th.
Two walks are planned, one in Waterford City which walks from Pinegrove Day Care Centre to the People’s Park at 11am. For those living further West in Waterford, a walk goes from the Causeway Tennis Club in Abbeyside, also from 11am.
For Blathnaid, whose whole family will be taking part in the walk, reasons are deeply personal as her family collectively cares for their dad, Ray Prenter, a former school principal in Tramore.
Ray attends Pinegrove Day Care Centre and also receives support from Waterford Healing Arts in University Hospital Waterford.
Without the help, support and advice received by the family from Alzheimers Ireland, Blathnaid says they wouldn’t have known where to turn or what to do in order to best care for and support Ray.
While her late mum, Bridie was primarily Ray’s carer, she became ill three years ago following a shock diagnosis of an aggressive form of cancer.
Importance of the Memory Walk
The family found themselves dividing care between both parents and realising how important charities such as the Solas Cancer Support Centre and Alzheimers Ireland are to those who are caring for loved ones, and indeed to those who are grieving.
It is Blathnaid’s hope that people take part in the Memory Walk on September 20th so that they realise they aren’t alone, that there are shared experiences which can offer strength, and the awareness of the impact of dementia and Alzheimers can be increased.
Play to listen back in full to Blathnaid on The Big Breakfast Blaa.
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