Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams has teamed up again with Oldham Council to arrange the second Oldham and Saddleworth Memory Walk.
The event will take place in Alexandra Park on Saturday, October 12, starting at the Boathouse café at 11am.
The walk, in aid of Alzheimer’s Society, will be about an hour long and will include a guided tour and talk about the history of the award-winning park.
Mrs Abrahams, who is the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Dementia, was the first MP to become an Alzheimer Society’s Dementia Friends Champions.
She hopes the walk will help to raise awareness about dementia as part of her campaign to develop a Dementia Friendly Oldham.
She said: “I know from personal experience how important it is to celebrate the memory of a loved one who has been affected by dementia.
“My mum Angela died from Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common type of dementia, in 2012 aged 74.
“I remember her as a brilliant, vivacious, caring woman; a woman who lived her life for social justice before it entered the lexicon.
“In its latter stages the disease changed her into a different person, not better or worse, just different.
“It’s lovely that we have now established the Oldham and Saddleworth Memory Walk as a regular event which will help local people not just to remember their loved ones, but also encourage more people to be active helping prevent dementia whilst improving the wellbeing of people living with dementia.
“If we raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society as a result of this, that’s a fantastic bonus.”
Sue Clarke, Alzheimer’s Society Operations Manager for Greater Manchester, said: “Dementia is now the UK’s biggest killer with someone developing it every three minutes – yet research still trails far behind other health conditions, after decades of underfunding.
“We are calling on family, friends – and furry four-legged supporters – to unite against dementia this autumn. Walk with us at Memory Walk and dementia won’t win.
“Every pound raised will help Alzheimer’s Society provide information and support, improve care, fund research and create lasting change for people affected by dementia.”
There’s no fee for the Oldham and Saddleworth Memory Walk, but if participants are able to make a donation, every pound raised will help Alzheimer’s Society provide vital information, support, improve care, fund research and create lasting change for people affected by the condition: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mw500980
For more information about the event go to memorywalk.org.uk