Alliance Healthcare Team Members Complete 6-hour Trek in Aid of Alzheimer’s Society Dressed as ‘Glamorous Grannies’

Alliance Healthcare UK team members Nick Atkins, Swansea Service Centre Manager, and Karl Goodall, Swansea Driver Team Manager, successfully climbed Pen y Fan in South Wales in aid of Alzheimer’s Society.

Pen y Fan, situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park, is the highest British peak south of the Cadair Idris in Snowdonia standing at 886 metres above sea level.

Nick and Karl embarked on the trek dressed as ‘glamorous grannies’ - donning wigs, tights, and dresses to climb the famous peak and raise money for those with dementia. Dementia is a disease which most commonly affects those aged 65 and over and 65% of the 944,000 people living with dementia in the UK are women*. The pair completed the mountain trek in six hours, carrying an Alliance Healthcare medicines cool box weighing over 35 kg. They have so far raised over £1,500 for Alzheimer’s Society, a cause close to Nick Atkins’s heart.

Alzheimer’s Society is a national care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers. The charity comprises trusted experts, campaigners, researchers, and clinicians who are attempting to tackle the biggest challenges facing people living with dementia. Alzheimer’s Society Cymru is the only UK dementia charity to fund both biomedical and care research.

Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, said:

“Alzheimer’s Society Cymru is delighted that Nick and Karl from Alliance Healthcare scaled Pen Y Fan as ‘glamourous grannies’ to raise funds and awareness, particularly when Nick is directly affected by dementia. With over 50,000 people living with dementia in Wales and 900,000 across the UK, there has never been more important time to support our work.

“Alzheimer’s Society Cymru relies on the generosity of its supporters, like Nick and Karl and Alliance Healthcare, to help us continue our vital work, providing help and hope for people affected by dementia. We cannot thank Nick and Karl enough for their amazing efforts to support Alzheimer’s Society Cymru.”

Nick Atkins, Swansea Service Centre Manager, said:

“We decided to dress up as glamorous elderly ladies to bring attention to the demographic that are most affected by the disease. Raising money for Alzheimer’s Society is very close to my heart as my mother is currently in the later stages of this horrible disease. It’s great that every penny raised through this event will go to such a worthy cause.”

Karl Goodall, Swansea Driver Team Manager, said:

“After doing many charity events previously I now needed a different challenge. When Nick and I spontaneously came up with this unique idea I knew it would be a sure way to raise money and awareness for such a great cause!”

You can still donate to their cause by visiting the following link: Fundraiser by Nicholas Atkins : The Betty & Edna Mountain Climb (gofundme.com)

If you need help, visit alzheimers.org.uk or call 0333 150 3456 to speak to one of Alzheimer’s Society Cymru’s expert dementia Advisers.