Friends of a mum who was diagnosed with dementia at just 34 have finished an eight-mile eight-mile walk for charity. Holly Braithwaite Frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
She is believed to be one of the youngest people in the UK dianosed with the condition. She first started showing symptoms in 2019 but thought she had post-natal depression, as she'd not long given birth to her daughter Alba, Teeside Live reports.
Holly's two school friends Sophie Poulton, 33, and Kayleigh Spooner, 34, organised the eight-mile walk to celebrate their beloved friend, and were joined by over 80 people on the trek from Glaisdale to Goathland. The group raised a whopping £7,000 for Rare Dementia Support, a service funded by The National Brain Appeal, which became a lifeline for Holly, her husband Alex, and her mother Chris.
Pal Sophie said: “The walk was a huge success, lots of people joined us for a day full of fun and laughter! We sang, we danced, we laughed and we cried! We spoke about Holly and all the great times we’ve had together.
"We couldn’t be any happier with how well the day went. We are still waiting for a final total of money raised on the day as local schools etc are still wanting to donate, however the just giving page is now over £7,000 including Gift Aid, so that is amazing!”
Sophie, who also now helps Alex and Chris care for Holly, added: “It took a while for Holly to get a proper diagnosis. After several different tests and scans it was confirmed it was Frontotemporal Dementia. We were so shocked when were heard it was a form of dementia.
"Holly’s so sharp, even now, she will know dates, birthdays, what we did on nights out when we were younger. That’s the surprising thing about FTD and some of these rarer forms of dementia. It’s not about memory loss and it can happen to younger people.”
Frontotemporal dementia can affect behaviour, personality and language, with relatively few memory problems in the early stages. It is part of a group of disorders that occur when nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are lost. This causes the lobes to shrink.
Like other rare forms of dementia, it can strike young, affecting people in their thirties, forties, and fifties. People affected often have no insight that their behaviour is not normal. This creates huge challenges to those living with the condition, and to their families, carers and employers. There is currently no cure for any form of dementia.
Rare Dementia Support provides advice and a safe space to meet other people experiencing similar problems, guiding and informing them and the people who care about them. Money raised from the walk will provide guidance and education both in person and through their virtual centre as well as being a space for research, artistic and cultural activities.
Sophie continued: “The Rare Dementia Support team have been a godsend to those caring for Holly, offering their expertise and support to the family and so we knew we wanted to give something back. When Kayleigh and I went to Alex with our idea of a fundraising walk, he suggested we do this for The National Brain Appeal who fund the service.
“We have contacted lots of people who know and love Holly to join us to celebrate her and to help to raise money for the charity. We’ve also had support from people who don’t know Holly but just want to show they care. We really wanted to just make the day a good one, one that is full of fun and laughter, just the way Holly would like it!
“Holly’s condition is progressing faster than any of us anticipated. As family and friends we are doing all we can to support her and create a safe, loving and caring environment for her during this scary, confusing time.
"We are devastated and broken hearted to see what is happening to our beloved friend. We know there is no cure and we just want to be there for her and do whatever we can for her, Alex, Alba, Chris and all the family.”
If you'd like to donate, please visit Holly's JustGiving page.
