Woman takes on 100km challenge for Alzheimer’s charity to honour father

A WOMAN is to walk the Jurassic Coast to raise money for charity in honour of her father.

Cheryl Frost, 48, from Lewknor, will undertake the 100km challenge in May in support of the Alzheimer’s Society, which supports people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia and their families.

She has used the charity’s helpline since her father, Richard, 69, was diagnosed with the disease five years ago.

Ms Frost, a professional fund-
raiser, said: “My dad was diagnosed when he was 63, so very early for that kind of thing.

“He has deteriorated very quickly over the last five years, to the point where he cannot do anything by himself anymore.

“My stepmum has to tell him when to have showers and put his clothes on. Some days he will put his daywear on top of his pyjamas.

“We had to put a tracker on his phone so that if he goes out, we know where he is.

“This is something I haven’t experienced before so obviously I have found it very hard. I have a very close bond with Dad. I called the helpline and they have been absolutely amazing. Each person’s Alzheimer’s and dementia progresses differently, so a lot of it is just talking through with them the changes in my dad.

“They support me and give me ideas on how to help and support him, such as how to word things to him.

“For example, you never say to people with Alzheimer’s, ‘Do you remember?’ because they won’t and then they get stressed and frustrated as to why they can’t. It also helps me support my stepmum. I go over three times a week to give her a break so she can go out and get her hair done or something.

“During some calls, I have just sat there and cried and mumbled. They probably haven’t understood a word I said but I felt better.”

Ms Frost says the helpline has enabled her to better understand her father, who was in the armed forces for 28 years.

She said: “Dad was posted to Iraq and Bahrain and retired in 2001. I have a photo of him in my front room and he asked me who it was. There have been a couple of times where he has seen my brother and forgotten who he is.

“He was very intelligent and full of advice and wisdom and experience and unconditional love. I am probably biased but he was the dad every child dreamt they had.”

Ms Frost estimates that it will take her between 18 and 22 hours to complete her challenge, which involves walking on hilly terrain.

She was inspired to try the walk after seeing a friend complete it last year. Ms Frost said: “He walked the Thames Path and the Jurassic Coast and he had lost seven stone by the time he had finished.

“It was really inspiring so I thought: ‘I want to raise a lot of money, so let’s go’. I have family there who can cheer me on.”

She has been in training since October and walks about 50 miles a week. She has lost 3.5 stone and says her muscles are “popping out left, right and centre”.

Ms Frost added: “I’m excited because it is a very big challenge. I’m doing it with my mate who did it last year and my partner is going to meet me at various checkpoints.”

Her partner, Jon Hannett, will be doing his own challenge to raise money for the charity in May by cycling 100 miles through and around London, finishing at Tower Bridge.

So far Ms Frost has raised £430 on her JustGiving page and has a target of £1,000.

She said: “It’s amazing, considering I only put the page up two weeks ago. I have told my dad and I have to do it every time because he forgets but when he knows, he gets excited.”

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