A MEMBER of staff from Barnsley College is using her own struggles to help raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.
Amanda McGrath’s father is living with both Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and each day her family face the painful reality of losing him each day.
This year, she has teamed up with the Students’ Union for World Alzheimer’s Day to sell hand-made crocheted forget-me-not flowers - a symbol of remembrance long associated with dementia.
Amanda is also joining members of the college’s apprenticeship team to take part in the Leeds Half Marathon next year.
Amanda added: “I want to raise as much money as I can for everyone affected by this horrible disease, not just the people who have dementia but the people around, people like my mum.
“She is his carer and is losing her husband of nearly 60 years, as well as her best friend.
“They can’t go on holiday anymore, she can’t leave him alone, and also has to deal with his aggression, caused by his vascular dementia.
“It’s not just the individual with this awful degenerative brain disease it affects, but those around too, who are left being forgotten by their loved one.”
