I'm A Celeb star joining Stonehenge charity walk for those with dementia
There are almost 8,000 people living with dementia in Wiltshire
Former I'm a Celebrity Winner Vicky Pattison will be donning her walking boots in Wiltshire to help people with dementia.
The TV presenter, who shot to fame in Geordie Shore, is taking part in the Alzheimer's Society's Trek26 Stonehenge event today (Sunday 3rd September).
The 34 year old will be taking part in memory of her grandfather and will have her fiancé Ercan Ramadan alongside her for support.
In an emotional Instagram post, Vicky revealed her beloved granddad, David Birdsey, passed away aged 92. He was diagnosed with dementia in 2010.
"You were the best granda I could have ever asked for and I feel incredibly grateful to you for everything you taught me and all the beautiful memories you gave me.
"You taught me the importance of hard work, kindness, and above all else family values. I promise to honour your memory and live in a way that I know would make you proud- travelling lots, having adventures and putting my family first.
"In your memory, I will continue to support, raise money and awareness for the amazing Alzheimer’s Society in any way that I can – no one should have to watch their beautiful family members slowly fade away through that awful disease.”
The event has two routes, one 13 miles and the other a gruelling 26 miles.
The 26 mile route will start and finish at Hudson's Field in Salisbury.
The 13 mile route starts at South Newton & Great Wishford Village Hall and ends at Hudson's Field.
The first wave of walkers are setting off at 6.00am today - with 785 people signed up to take part overall.
The Stonehenge route will take in historic landscape dominated by the world-famous stone circle of Stonehenge, including water meadows, high ridges and quiet woodland, as well as Salisbury’s 13th century cathedral.
Former Geordie Shore star, Pattison, said:
“The easy part is signing up to take part in Alzheimer’s Society’s Trek26, as it only takes a few minutes, but the hard part is to motivate myself to train for it. I just know, when I’m up there, trekking next to Stonehenge, taking in the beauty of it all and surrounded by hundreds of other very passionate people walking to stop dementia in its tracks, it will be so worth it.
“I’m proud to be trekking for Alzheimer’s Society’s in honour of my grandad. My family has seen first-hand how much dementia can take from someone you love. It’s been hard to see how the condition affected my once strong and active grandad, as well as our whole family.
“I hope everybody joins me to raise as much money as possible by trekking around the UK in support of people with dementia like my grandad.”
There are currently 7,900 people living with dementia in Wiltshire.
Money raised from Alzheimer’s Society’s Trek26 will go towards the charity’s vital services, including its Dementia Connect support line, which have been used over six million times since the start of the pandemic.
Two years on, Alzheimer’s Society continues to be flooded with calls from people in Wiltshire seeking vital support for their loved ones.