MADDY Haren, 55, is calling for people to join her and unite against dementia at the Cheshire Memory Walk.

The Timperley resident is urging people to register for the event to help the Alzheimer’s Society raise money to improve the lives of people like her mum, 81-year-old Mary.

Mary was diagnosed with vascular dementia a few years ago, and her condition has deteriorated so much that she no longer knows who Maddy is.

She moved into Fairways care home in Flixton two and a half years ago.

Maddy said: “She doesn’t know where she is but she’s safe. The staff at the home are fantastic, it’s such a hard job but they’re great.

“We need to invest more money into dementia care facilities because more and more of us will get this condition.”

The Haren family has struggled with Mary’s diagnosis, which has affected their life in major ways.

Maddy was diagnosed with cancer in February last year, and made the difficult decision to hide her illness from Mary to not upset and confuse her.

Maddy finished her chemotherapy just a few weeks before the 2018 memory walk in October, which she completed with her husband, Lennart.

She said: “I hadn’t even finished chemo when I signed up but it was something I really wanted to do for mum and also for myself as a challenge.

“When I look back at the pictures from last year I think ‘oh God I looked so ill’, even though I felt well. It was such a great day and atmosphere, even in the rain!”

Maddy has been asked to cut the ribbon to begin this year’s walk and will have her young nieces and nephews there to help.

Steve Green, Alzheimer’s Society Area Manager for Cheshire, said: “Dementia is now the UK’s biggest killer with someone developing it every three minutes - yet dementia research still trails far behind other health conditions, after decades of underfunding.”

The Memory Walk will be held at Areley Hall and Gardens, Northwich, on Saturday October 12, starting at 11am.

Walkers can choose a 3.5km or 6km route, with a £10 registration cost. Participants can register online at www.memorywalk.org.uk until Thursday October 10.