Welcome mat
Hi, and welcome! This is the journal for Lilac to Ventoux. I plan to cycle up Mont Ventoux on 25 May 2011, to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease and funds for Alzheimer's research.
Late in 2003, my grandfather, David Sommerville, passed away after a very long battle with Alzheimer's (and latterly, Parkinson's) disease. Anyone who has experience of caring for someone with this terrible illness knows about the awful, inevitable deterioration that takes place. Grandpa was an alert, involved and interested man who loved his family, and who enjoyed being outdoors, whether for his daily walks (several miles), gardening or a round of golf. Born in Airdrie, Scotland in 1910, he lived during the course of his life in India (where he met my grandmother, Constance, and where my Mum was born), Rhodesia/Zimbabwe (where I was born), and Australia. He and Granny had three children, who went on to give them nine grandchildren. He worked as a chartered accountant in the textile industry, served in the navy during WWII, and kept a daily journal for most of his life.
Granny passed away in 1989, and not long after that, Grandpa began to show the first signs of his illness. There were small signs at first - forgetfulness, confusion about where he was (and in which period of his life) - and then things started to happen that made it clear that he was no longer adequately able to care for himself. Fortunately, he lived in the same street as my parents, so my Mum was able to look after him. She was determined that Grandpa should live at home for as long as possible, and through her care, he was able to do so for most of the rest of his days, in familiar surroundings and with his loved ones close by.
Grandpa battled Alzheimer's for more than a decade. By the end of his life, the disease had stripped him of his ability to communicate, to care for himself, and to engage with what was going on around him. To end one's life in this way is a fate I would not wish on anybody.
I was therefore very upset to read that Sir Terry Pratchett, my favourite author, had been diagnosed with a form of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He made the announcement on 11 December 2007, in his blog message titled 'An Embuggerance'.
Inasmuch as anyone can love a stranger they've met only a few times in a book signing line, I love Terry Pratchett. His books have been part of my life since the summer of 1992/3, which I spent camped out under a grand piano in a house shared with a bunch of good friends. Mort was my introduction to the Discworld, and has remained my sentimental favourite, and the book which I always give first to a new reader as an introduction to the Discworld. I love them all though, and every battered, much-read copy is like a friend. I've lost count of the times I've disappeared into those books during times of darkness, seeking a balm that only the Discworld could offer.
I loiter on the fringes of Discworld fandom, and have made some good friendships based largely on a shared love of the books. DW fandom is by and large populated with very good-hearted people, so it wasn't much of a surprise when, following Sir Terry's donation of £500,000 to the Alzheimer's Research Trust, fans decided to 'Match it for Pratchett' - raising funds with the aim of matching his donation. You can read about some of their efforts here. Many of these activities take place on what is now known as The Glorious 25th of May, an important date out of the book Night Watch. Over the coming months, I'll gather information about what other fans are doing to raise funds and Alzheimer's awareness, and I'll make a links post, probably below this one (I'll also include links to as many Alzheimer's Disease organisations as possible).
Lilac to Ventoux is my own effort to contribute to Alzheimer's awareness and research. I am not really an arts and crafts type, but I am a keen cyclist, and following my husband's participation in the 2010 Alpe d'HuZes (a Dutch event during which people raise money for cancer research by trying to cycle six times up and down Alpe d'Huez) it occurred to me that I could do something cycling-related for Alzheimer's research. For quite a while, I've wanted to ride up Mont Ventoux, one of the most challenging mountains to feature in the Tour de France. It's a pretty big challenge in itself, but to add a goal like raising Alzheimer's awareness makes taking on this challenge hugely more meaningful. So, that's what I'm going to do.
In this blog I will chronicle my preparations (and those of my family as well, because some of them will be coming along too!), and I aim also to post information about Alzheimer's disease and the current state of the research. I am hoping to learn a lot over the coming months, and of course, hoping also to make a contribution towards finding preventative measures and a cure for Alzheimer's. Your support and encouragement will be very much appreciated.
Lilac to Ventoux is also on Twitter ( @lilactoventoux) and Facebook.
Thank you for reading!
Camilla
Late in 2003, my grandfather, David Sommerville, passed away after a very long battle with Alzheimer's (and latterly, Parkinson's) disease. Anyone who has experience of caring for someone with this terrible illness knows about the awful, inevitable deterioration that takes place. Grandpa was an alert, involved and interested man who loved his family, and who enjoyed being outdoors, whether for his daily walks (several miles), gardening or a round of golf. Born in Airdrie, Scotland in 1910, he lived during the course of his life in India (where he met my grandmother, Constance, and where my Mum was born), Rhodesia/Zimbabwe (where I was born), and Australia. He and Granny had three children, who went on to give them nine grandchildren. He worked as a chartered accountant in the textile industry, served in the navy during WWII, and kept a daily journal for most of his life.
Granny passed away in 1989, and not long after that, Grandpa began to show the first signs of his illness. There were small signs at first - forgetfulness, confusion about where he was (and in which period of his life) - and then things started to happen that made it clear that he was no longer adequately able to care for himself. Fortunately, he lived in the same street as my parents, so my Mum was able to look after him. She was determined that Grandpa should live at home for as long as possible, and through her care, he was able to do so for most of the rest of his days, in familiar surroundings and with his loved ones close by.
Grandpa battled Alzheimer's for more than a decade. By the end of his life, the disease had stripped him of his ability to communicate, to care for himself, and to engage with what was going on around him. To end one's life in this way is a fate I would not wish on anybody.
I was therefore very upset to read that Sir Terry Pratchett, my favourite author, had been diagnosed with a form of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He made the announcement on 11 December 2007, in his blog message titled 'An Embuggerance'.
Inasmuch as anyone can love a stranger they've met only a few times in a book signing line, I love Terry Pratchett. His books have been part of my life since the summer of 1992/3, which I spent camped out under a grand piano in a house shared with a bunch of good friends. Mort was my introduction to the Discworld, and has remained my sentimental favourite, and the book which I always give first to a new reader as an introduction to the Discworld. I love them all though, and every battered, much-read copy is like a friend. I've lost count of the times I've disappeared into those books during times of darkness, seeking a balm that only the Discworld could offer.
I loiter on the fringes of Discworld fandom, and have made some good friendships based largely on a shared love of the books. DW fandom is by and large populated with very good-hearted people, so it wasn't much of a surprise when, following Sir Terry's donation of £500,000 to the Alzheimer's Research Trust, fans decided to 'Match it for Pratchett' - raising funds with the aim of matching his donation. You can read about some of their efforts here. Many of these activities take place on what is now known as The Glorious 25th of May, an important date out of the book Night Watch. Over the coming months, I'll gather information about what other fans are doing to raise funds and Alzheimer's awareness, and I'll make a links post, probably below this one (I'll also include links to as many Alzheimer's Disease organisations as possible).
Lilac to Ventoux is my own effort to contribute to Alzheimer's awareness and research. I am not really an arts and crafts type, but I am a keen cyclist, and following my husband's participation in the 2010 Alpe d'HuZes (a Dutch event during which people raise money for cancer research by trying to cycle six times up and down Alpe d'Huez) it occurred to me that I could do something cycling-related for Alzheimer's research. For quite a while, I've wanted to ride up Mont Ventoux, one of the most challenging mountains to feature in the Tour de France. It's a pretty big challenge in itself, but to add a goal like raising Alzheimer's awareness makes taking on this challenge hugely more meaningful. So, that's what I'm going to do.
In this blog I will chronicle my preparations (and those of my family as well, because some of them will be coming along too!), and I aim also to post information about Alzheimer's disease and the current state of the research. I am hoping to learn a lot over the coming months, and of course, hoping also to make a contribution towards finding preventative measures and a cure for Alzheimer's. Your support and encouragement will be very much appreciated.
Lilac to Ventoux is also on Twitter ( @lilactoventoux) and Facebook.
Thank you for reading!
Camilla