Dementia sufferer in charity walk for AgeUK Camden centre
Hugh Wynn outside Henderson Court, in Hampstead - Credit: AgeUK Camden
A dementia sufferer is taking part in a day-long sponsored walk on Sunday to raise money for AgeUK Camden’s Henderson Court day centre, in Hampstead.
Hugh Wynn will walk the 21-miles to St Albans and back to raise money for the centre which specialises in dementia care.
The 72-year-old suffers from dementia, and attends the sporting memories group at Henderson Court to help boost his memory.
He said attending the group is the highlight of his month.
“I was in a bad place after I had a stroke and want to thank the people who run the dementia services which picked me up.
Within a day of getting in touch with Age UK Camden there were people waiting to help me – it was just a case of finding them. I was football mad and used to play football.”
One of his first visits to the sporting memory events ironically ended up in meeting the son of one of the footballers of his youth.
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“At one of the first Sporting Memory events I went to, they had these sporting legends cards and I knew one was of John White who’d played for Scotland and Tottenham.
“It was only afterwards that Rob, who used to run the group, told me it was his dad.
“I used to box regularly and talking about sport helps me connect to a particularly happy time.”
The group uses archive material for people living with dementia or memory problems.
The group was set up by Rob and Amanda White, and is now run by AgeUK Camden’s Gabi Garbutt.
Ms Garbutt said the group is a good way of reaching people who may be otherwise isolated.
“Older men are more likely to be socially secluded and discussing sports come quite naturally to a lot of men, so is a great way to get them involved.
“It’s very effective as a way to stimulate the brain, which is crucial to helping to slow down the progression of dementia.”
Research has shown that more than 850,000 people in the UK are currently living with dementia.
According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, 1 in 3 people born this year will develop the illness in their lifetime.
Anyone interested in sponsoring Hugh should email AgeUK Camden on suzy.barber@ageukcamden.org.uk
