The trip has been paid for, but Mrs Owen has pledged to raise a minimum of £3,500 for the Alzheimer’s Society. To raise the necessary sponsorship she arranged a quiz night at the end of November at Whitwell Station.
 
Just over two years ago, Ms Owen, who was at the time living in Bude, Cornwall, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Severe swelling in her joints resulted in her being practically immobile and only able to get around with the aid of a wheelchair. “Apparently, my immune system had turned ‘rogue’ on me and had started to attack all my joints, and I was advised that I would probably not be able to walk unaided again,” she said.
 
However, after ceasing a course of debilitating medication, against the wishes of her rheumatology consultant at the North Devon Hospital in Barnstaple, Mrs Owen’s immune system appeared to “reboot” itself, the pain and swelling disappearing after several months.
 
“My consultant could not believe what had happened. His exact words were that ‘it was nothing short of a miracle’, and I was signed off. Touch wood, I have now been pain- and swelling-free for some two years now, and am back to being my very active self.”
 
Mrs Owen explained that her reason for doing the trek for this charity is that Alzheimer’s can strike anybody at any time of their life. “Many people may have a family member who is suffering from it or know somebody who is. However, it is not really a disease that affects the sufferer, as they usually regress to a point in their lives when they were the happiest; it is the families of the sufferers that the disease impacts the most.
 
“Also, the fact that I can do this long and arduous walk is my way of giving something back to the community and to show my thankfulness that I have somehow recovered from what could have been a life-changing disease for me.”
 

• For more information, contact: Fiona Owen 01603 395750/07598 487913 or email
• Donations can also be made HERE

 
The financial cost of dementia

• Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 850,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia.
• In less than 10 years a million people will be living with dementia, which will rise to two million people by 2051.
• Dementia costs the UK economy more than £26 billion a year – this is the equivalent of more than £30,000 per person with dementia.
• The Alzheimer’s Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them.
• The Alzheimer’s Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It supports people to live well with dementia today and funds research to find a cure for tomorrow. It relies on voluntary donations to continue its work. Donate now by calling 0330 333 0804.
• The Alzheimer’s Society also provides a National Dementia Helpline: 0300 222 1122.