Son is fighting back against disease which ‘stole’ his dad

The son of an Alzheimer’s sufferer is coping with the disease which has “stolen” his dad by fundraising for a charity which he hopes will help “save the next generation”.

Dan Wise (42), of Whaplode says research into a cure and a better treatments will come too late for his dad Graham, but he hopes that by raising cash for research he can help prevent other families going through the trauma he, his siblings and their mum are enduring.

Dan’s dad Graham is in his early 70s but now requires full time care because he has three of the “big four” forms of dementia, which means sometimes he even “forgets” to swallow.

Graham was diagnosed two or three years ago and the disease has progressed very quickly. He now has Alzheimer’s, fronto-temporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Dan said: “Dad is now in a care home and when I go to see him there is nothing left behind his eyes.

“People describe Alzheimer’s as a thief, stealing the person they love, and the only way to deal with a thief is to fight back.

“The only way I can deal with Dad’s Alzheimer’s is to fight back by raising money in the hope that they will find a cure or better treatments.

“I am from a big family of four brothers and two sisters, and although they say dementia is not hereditary there is always the chance one of us will get it.

“They say one on three people die with dementia so I want to do what I can to save the next generation.”

Dan and his brother Rob (44) and a work colleague from Bakkavor, Cesar Azeredo, are hoping to raise more than £1,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society this weekend by taking part in the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.

The challenge takes in the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, and should be completed in under 12 hours.

Dan said: “It’s a big challenge – these are the three highest peaks in Yorkshire, but it will be worth it if we can raise some money.

“My mum and dad have been married more than 50 years and it’s so terrible to see them apart.

“I can’t make that right but I just want to do whatever I can.”