A Fife mother-of-two has been made a champion of Alzheimer’s Research UK after raising more than £40,000 for the charity.
Cath Baxter decided to support the charity after her mum Liz Brown was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, which can affect personality and behaviour as well as memory, in 2012.
“Fundraising for Alzheimer’s Research UK gives me something positive to do in the face of my mum’s condition,” said Cath.
“I am really pleased and proud to have been chosen to be an Alzheimer’s Research UK champion. It is great to have this endorsement and I hope I can continue to raise awareness of dementia and funds for research.”
The 45-year-old, who lives near St Andrews, raised more than £40,000 by organising an event in 2015 called Bike for Brains.
Along with a group of friends, Cath cycled the length of the country from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 10 days.
Liz passed away shortly after the New Year at the age of 76.
She had latterly been moved to a care home when her dementia caused out-of-character behaviour and she started to become aggressive.
Having at first experienced confusion and forgetfulness, Liz went on to become angry and frustrated as the dementia took hold.
Liz went on to resist help from carers but things settled down when she went to the care home. Cath believes the surroundings reminded her of her time working in a hospital as an orthoptist.
Cath said: “When I confronted my mum about her memory, she was most affronted. We finally persuaded her to have tests and her condition was confirmed, but she totally denied her dementia. She never admitted that she had it.
“Her constant denial made it near impossible for anyone to help her or look after her. She hated people doing anything for her, although she had forgotten how to do simple, everyday things.”
Cath’s next fundraising endeavour is Sing for Brains, which is a come-and-sing performance of Handel’s Messiah in Edinburgh on April 22.
Tickets and more information can be found at www.eventbrite.co.uk by searching Sing for Brains.
Alzheimer’s Research UK chief executive Hilary Evans said: “We’re so pleased to be naming Cath an Alzheimer’s Research UK Champion.
“She has worked really hard to raise funds for dementia research and increase much-needed awareness of the condition.”
