AHSN team member to walk 23 miles to grandmother’s childhood home for Alzheimer's Society

A member of the AHSN is team is set to tackle 23 miles to her grandmother’s childhood home in West Sussex, in aid of Alzheimer’s Society.

Nadia Kuftinoff, who works in the business support team and lives in Southsea (Portsmouth), has taken up the challenge in a bid to raise £300 for the charity. She hopes to complete the journey to Sidlesham on Saturday, 19 August within nine hours.

Nadia said: “I decided to take part in this challenge for Alzheimer’s Society because I’ve been fundraising and volunteering since 2013, and wanted to do something to challenge myself and inspire people to sponsor me. I lived with my nan growing up, and she had dementia. It was really tough for her in the last eight years of her life. Supporting Alzheimer’s Society care and research has become very important to me.

“It’s great to think that I will be raising funds to help support people to live well with dementia and to fund research to one day find a cure for dementia.”

The 28-year-old is doing the walk in a bid to also raise awareness of this year’s Portsmouth Memory Walk. A total of 1,373 supporters have already registered to take part in the Memory Walk, which will be on Sunday, 24 September on Castle Field, Southsea (near Southsea Castle).

More than 2,200 people in Portsmouth are living with dementia, and last year’s event – attended by 2,653 people – raised more than £228,000 to help people living with the condition.

Alzheimer's Society community fundraiser for Hampshire and the Islands, Charlotte Stamp, welcomed Nadia’s decision to boost the charity. She said:  It’s great that Nadia is giving her time to support Alzheimer’s Society. Dementia can happen to anyone and there is currently no cure. But with the right support, people can live well with dementia.

“As a charity, we rely on the generosity of individuals like Nadia to help us continue our vital work so that Alzheimer's Society can continue leading the fight against dementia.”

To sponsor Nadia please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mw247147

To sign up for Portsmouth Memory Walk, visit www.memorywalk.org.uk

Find out more about the AHSN's work to improve life for those with dementia in Wessex, here.