St Vincent’s House team puts best foot forward in aid of Alzheimer’s research

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Sep 14, 2016

Earlier this month three of the staff team from St Vincent’s House in Hammersmith put on their trainers and got active as part of the Alzheimer’s Society’s Memory Walk.

Activity coordinators, Joanna Zygmunt and Kirsty Lee Kent, and the home’s customer relations manager, Lorelei Shepherd, completed the 6km Memory Walk from London Bridge.  The Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walk takes place in towns and cities across the UK every year to raise funds to find a cure for dementia.

Calling themselves ‘Carers United’, the three colleagues from St Vincent’s House raised a fantastic £460, and are planning to double this sum through Care UK’s match funding scheme.

Lorelei, who spearheaded the team’s involvement, says, “I thought it would be a nice way of getting to know colleagues better while raising awareness of dementia, getting some exercise and having fun. It was great to have a common aim to complete together.

“We were lucky to have good weather on the day and it was inspiring to be part of such a great event, seeing others walking in memory of their loved ones. There are more than 40 residents at St Vincent’s House who are living with dementia and we dedicated our walk to them,” she says.

The team’s success has inspired other St Vincent’s House colleagues to get involved too. “Since doing the Memory Walk, I’ve been approached by other colleagues who are keen to join in the next adventure,” Lorelei explains. “I’m now on the look-out for another relevant event that we can throw ourselves into!”

This year the Alzheimer’s Society’s Memory Walk has been the biggest event yet, with some 100,000 people taking part at over 30 locations across the country. Walks are taking place across the country until early October – it’s not too late to get involved and raise money for this great cause.

To find out more, go to www.memorywalk.org.uk