My Story

So.. like any dutiful son I used to phone my parents every (ish) Sunday to catch up. Dad often answered and I'd get about 16 seconds of air time before he'd say... "Let me get your Mother as I wont remember and I'll get into trouble". To be honest I thought it was a bit of a brush off but never minded. 2 years ago Dad and I lost Mum, a week or so of feeling poorly resulted in a hospital trip that she never came back from. The year that followed was possibly not my finest in terms of patience with my Dad. I couldnt understand why he was continually losing things (phones and bank cards) repeating himself constantly and generally not coping with modern life. It took a call from a concerned neighbour and randomly a travel agent before I managed to put two and two together and realise that Mum had done a great job in hiding the symptons Dad was suffering from and the brush off on the Sunday calls wasnt a brush off at all. As an only child I was suddenly acutely aware that I was very responsible for Dad and not a little lost as to what to do... Which after a Google search is where MIND came in.. They were amazingly supportive and helpful and pointed me in the direction of what resources and support were available for Dad and the process that needed to be gone through to start a diagnosis. They also helped me feel a little less lost and overwhelmed by this new Father/Son dynamic. I've had charity places before and not been touched by the cause that the charity supports but MIND has helped me enormously which is why I'd be incredibly grateful for any donation, big or small as I pour myself into some body shaming Lycra on 28th May for the RideLondon - Essex 100 and cycle 160 km on an unforgiving saddle so they can continue to help other people feel a little less lost and overwhelmed when faced with Dementia.