Photos by John Horton
Hundreds of people have taken part in the first Margate Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walk today (October 13).
Some 700 people gathered at The Oval Bandstand in Cliftonville to raise money for the society by taking part in either a 3km walk or the 6km route.
Both walks started and ended at the bandstand after doing a coastal circuit.
Alzheimer’s Society has pledged to invest £150 million in the next decade to search for better treatments and work towards a cure for dementia.
Across Thanet more than 1,300 people are living with dementia. Dementia is now the UK’s biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes. Of the top 10 causes of death, dementia is the only one we cannot prevent, cure or slow down.
Vicky McClure, Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador, said: “I love taking part in my local Memory Walk every year. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the life of my Nana Iris who I lost to dementia, whilst uniting with thousands of other walkers who are also affected.
“We need new treatments for dementia now – there have been none in the last 15 years. We owe it to the 850,000 people in the UK currently living with dementia to do something to change this.
“Every pound raised will help Alzheimer’s Society provide vital information and support, improve care, fund research and create lasting change.”
The Margate walk, which also featured a memory tag tree at the bandstand, is expected to have raised some £38,000.
