‘Mum’s the reason I do it’: Devoted daughter’s Denim for Dementia campaign goes from strength to strength

Faye Mitchell, 44, of Pudsey, couldn’t sit idly by and easily watch as her mum Carol’s situation deteriorated following a prognosis of Alzheimer’s 9 years in the past on the age of 64.

Decided to “do one thing actually constructive out of a very unhealthy state of affairs”, Faye was spurred on to launch a fundraiser encouraging folks to put on denim for a £1 donation in help of the Alzheimer’s Society.

And Denim for Dementia has gone on to seize the hearts of individuals throughout town and nation, with supporters rising in numbers annually and spanning from Harrogate to London.

The marketing campaign initially raised £12,500 in January 2019 – a powerful determine in itself however one which was dwarfed by the January 2020 whole of over £40,000.

Faye stated: “Mum’s the rationale I do it. It’s been 9 years of dwelling with the sickness now.

“Up till her prognosis, I didn’t know something about Alzhiemier’s or dementia. Lots of people are fairly naive. They may suppose it’s only a matter of forgetting somebody’s title nevertheless it’s excess of that. It’s an sickness of the mind.”

To start with, Carol’s signs have been very slight however now she will’t stroll, speak and even feed herself.

The merciless illness has additionally robbed Carol of her id, stripping away her persona and recollections over time.

Faye, mum to Taylor, eight, and Summer season, six, stated: “I used to be impressed by the consequences of the illness on my household and simply to see somebody with it.

“My youngsters haven’t recognized mum pre-Alzheimer’s.

“Mum doesn’t have a clue what I’m doing not to mention who I’m after I go see her.

“She used to simply love life. She giggled so much, laughed so much. She was so ditsy. The ironic factor is how she used to speak and speak.

“She was so trendy and classy and by no means left the home with out full make-up on. I attempt to keep that for her. I nonetheless like her to look good and do her roots and nails.”

Faye stated Mom’s Day was at all times a spotlight in her mum’s calendar.

“She used to at all times say ‘The place are you taking me? Are we going out for lunch?’ There was no getting away from it.

“We used to take her out, me and my accomplice and his mum – the 4 of us would make it a practice to exit for meals.

“Now it’s a case of I nonetheless purchase the cardboard however I’ve to open it for her and put it on the mantlepiece for her. So it’s very completely different.

“Lots of people would say ‘At the very least you continue to have your mum to hug on at the present time’ and I get that. I get she’s bodily right here. However that’s all she is now.”

Faye is registered carer for Carol alongside together with her dad David, 75, who additionally nonetheless works.

She stated: “On the times she’s not at day centre I am going give her a espresso and a biscuit and attempt to get fun or one thing out of her, even just a bit snigger. If I snigger she perks up, as if there’s recognition there.”

This yr’s Denim for Dementia day shall be held on Could 21 – Faye’s birthday and in order to reap the benefits of the eased lockdown guidelines.

Faye stated: “Hopefully by then we might have some normality, with the youngsters again at college and companies being extra lively and retailers open.

“So now I’m simply on the hunt once more for everybody to get entangled. I simply realize it could possibly be an enormous success, simply carrying denim and contributing £1.”

To assist launch this yr’s fundraiser, Faye has created a heartwarming marketing campaign video, that includes native Bramley singer Clare Brooke, who covers Neil Diamond’s Perpetually In Blue Denims whereas pictures of these affected by dementia seem on the display screen.

She stated: “ We’ve pulled out all of the stops by producing a marketing campaign track and video.

“I had an thought, a bit like Dwell Assist, to have Clare singing right into a microphone with earphones on and we reached out to those that have a cherished one dwelling with dementia or who’ve misplaced a cherished one via the sickness and an image comes on of them with their title.

“My youngsters in denim are on the finish, dancing round. It’s actually enjoyable and heartwarming.”

Anybody taken with participating can contact Faye through the Fb web page ‘Denim for Dementia’.

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