Fundraising trio to tackle Sahara
Published 7 Aug 2012 14:30
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THREE health workers will be taking on a five-day trek in the Sahara Desert to support a new charity for younger people with dementia.
Colleagues Charlie Draper, Rebecca Whitaker and Enid Phillips will be battling dunes and potentially sandstorms for up to eight hours a day in aid of Younger People with Dementia (YPWD) Berkshire West to raise sponsorship in November.
The trio work for mental and community health organisation Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Ms Draper, 28, a support worker for people with early on-set dementia, based at Wokingham Hospital, said: "We have undertaken this challenge with the aim of raising much-needed awareness and funds for an amazing newly registered charity called YPWD Berkshire West.
"YPWD aims to ensure the provision of a seamless service for the treatment, day-to-day care, respite, education, long term care and end of life care for younger people with dementia across Reading, Wokingham and Newbury, working closely with Berkshire Healthcare Trust to achieve this."
The term dementia describes a progressive, gradual loss of mental abilities, most frequently memory but also being able to carry out every-day tasks such as driving, cooking or managing money. Personality and behaviour can also become unfamiliar. In the UK, 2% (17,000) of people with dementia are aged 40-64.
Ms Draper, from Priestwood, Ms Phillips, 56, from Crown Wood, a community psychiatric nurse, and Ms Whitaker, 26, from Three Mile Cross, a mental health practitioner, have organised several fundraising events in addition to their desert trek.
The first tomorrow (Thursday) is an open mic night from 7-11pm showcasing local musicians in the Cellar Bar at South Hill Park arts centre in Ringmead, Birch Hill. Tickets are £10 and under-18s are also welcome.
On Saturday, August 18, from 11am-noon, there will be a salsa session at St Crispin's Leisure Centre, in London Road, Wokingham. Tickets are £6.
Then on Monday, September 3, there will be a Race Night with food at Woodley Age Concern in Southlake Crescent, Woodley. Tickets are £10 including dinner - for over 18s only.
To book or for more information, contact the team via 0750 0051119, email Charlie.draper@ypwd.info or search for YPWD Berkshire West on Facebook.
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