Walking For Alzheimer's

Devoted son's 1,500 mile walk from St Andrews to Rome to defeat Alzheimer's.

Peter Skelly, 47, from Blantyre, will spend a chilly Christmas under canvas during a walk of over 1,500 miles from St Andrews to Rome, to boost funds for Alzheimer's Research UK, the UK's leading dementia research charity. Peter set off in October and expects to reach his destination by the beginning of March 2015. During his mammoth walk, he will be spurred on by thoughts of his mum Anne, 71, who has been living with Alzheimer's disease for a number of years.

Travelling alone, once Peter reaches Canterbury, in Kent, he will follow an ancient trail to Rome, known as the Via Francigena. This route stretches through France and Switzerland and onwards to Italy, leading Peter through Medieval towns, charming villages and the snow clad Alps. 

Peter, a telecoms software engineer, talked about the walk and his motivation for taking up the challenge:

"I'm several weeks into the walk already and have met some amazing people along the way. Everyone is wondering why I've chosen the coldest time of year to take on the journey but the truth is I didn't want to put it off any longer. There are so many people like my mum living with Alzheimer’s and I'm determined to raise as much money as possible to help the experts, Alzheimer's Research UK, find the treatments so urgently needed. I’m also raising money for the support services my mum enjoys provided by the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland.

"Mum has only recently received the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease but on reflection my dad and I realise it's been creeping on for a number of years. Having always been an outgoing person, one of the first tell-tale signs that something was wrong was when Mum started to withdraw from social events. Dad looks after her at home now and we try to concentrate on the things she can do rather than those she can't. She's still a member of the local amateur dramatics society, even though she can't take such an active role, and singing also gives her a lot of pleasure.

"It's very difficult trying to come to terms with Mum's illness and I'm pleased this walk is giving me an opportunity to do something positive by raising money. I’m travelling light with the minimum of clothes, my tent and a few essentials. I’m working to a tight budget but will have to go to the expense of getting my walking boots resoled before I leave the UK shores. My Christmas meal under canvas, hopefully in France, will be a frugal affair, cooked in a billy can over my camping stove.

"When I reach Rome, I'll collect the bicycle I left behind five years ago, a time when I had to cut short a planned round the world trip as I was unwell. At that point I’ll have to decide whether to extend my journey on two wheels or turn round and cycle home. Mum's illness has made me realise that you have to appreciate the small things in life and follow your dreams rather than put them off."

Jodie Vaughan, Community Fundraising Manager for Alzheimer's Research UK, said:

"This is an amazing challenge and we are hugely grateful to Peter for taking on this epic journey from St Andrews to Rome to support our vital work. Every £20 he raises for Alzheimer’s Research UK will pay for another hour of world-class research, bringing us closer to finding ways to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

"There are over 830,000 people in the UK living with dementia today, including over 66,000 people in Scotland. Surrounding those people is a network of family members and carers profoundly affected by the condition. Dementia poses one of the greatest threats to public health now and in the future but funding for research still lags far behind other serious diseases. We rely on public donations to fund our crucial research and it's thanks to the commitment of people like Peter that we are able to continue our work."