Hello, our names are Charlie, Oli and Monty. In honour of all those affected by dementia we are going to walk from Old Trafford in Manchester to Villa Park in Birmingham via Bramall Lane in Sheffield. We are all big football fans and want to use these iconic stadiums as goals for our walk.

I’m Oli and the reason I wanted to join Charlie on this walk was because of my Grandad Lloyd. When I was younger he developed dementia and I had to experience the toll it put on my family, particularly my mum. He would pass away in 2021 and I feel that people with dementia need more support than they can always get. I’m a big Sheffield United fan and Bramall Lane being one of the destinations we want to go to means a lot to me.

The reason I feel compelled to address this issue is deeply rooted in my own experiences with loss; I've lost three grandparents to dementia. My grandpa Brian passed away when I was just four, so I didn’t fully grasp the impact then, but he profoundly influenced my life—his passion for football ignited my own love for the game. My Nana Norma was a significant figure in my life, yet when I was thirteen, she suffered from the disease to the point where she harmed my grandpa Eric, ultimately leading to his hospitalization and eventual death. The pain of losing a grandparent because of another is unimaginable. It’s important to note that this wasn’t the Nana I knew; the disease transformed her into someone unrecognizable. When she was placed in a care home, it felt like I had already lost her. Dementia is cruel; you lose someone twice. The most heart-wrenching experience is when they no longer recognize you, yet you still see them. She passed away last December, shortly after her 90th birthday, reuniting with grandpa Eric in what I hope is a peaceful place. Eric was my best friend, and I miss him every day. It’s not that the pain lessens over time; you simply learn to live without them. The loss of three grandparents to the same illness fuels my passion to ensure that no other family endures the suffering we experienced. It was the hardest challenge we ever faced. Additionally with us getting football involved this year we are walking to Villa park which is a special place in my heart considering my grandpa Brian is the reason why I am a huge Villa fan.

We are best mates with Monty and he wants to support us this year as he saw last year how much this fundraising meant to us. He joined us on the last day of the walk last year and was moved by our challenge.

These reasons are we are going to walk 120 miles in an attempt to raise money for dementia to give support to those who need it. We aim to raise an astonishing amount of money for dementia this year so if you can donate, share or do what you can to spread the word and help us raise the maximum amount of money.