Herefordshire woman wants to keep educating people about dementia, following her diagnosis
Sue Strachan was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2014, aged 58
A Herefordshire woman who has vascular dementia, says it's important work continues to try and find a cure.
Sue Strachan was diagnosed in 2014 aged 58, and lost her partner Sheila earlier this year.
After running two half marathons, having her head shaved, and abseiling down the Orbit Tower in London, Sue and Sheila were both made ambassadors for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
She says educating people is really vital in the work she now does, and she's going to keep on doing it.
"Losing my partner has obviously been devastating and things will be very different for me now going forward," she said.
"It was a huge honour for us to be both made ambassadors, and it's important we continue to break down the stigmas that there are around dementia.
"I've spoken to many people who've said they'd rather not know, but I'm glad I know, because although it was a difficult time getting the diagnosis, knowing what's wrong with me has been helpful in terms of day-to-day living.
"Each person with dementia will be different, and each person with dementia will have different symptoms, so even if two people were diagnosed on the same day with the same type of dementia and they were the same age, they will manifest differently."
Vascular dementia is known as the second-most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s.