Our story with Dementia
Memory Fest – Our Story So Far
In January 2016, MemoryFest was born as a result of our personal experiences with this terrible condition, thanks to an idea that my Dad, Stephen, had.
My Grandparents were fighting with this, with Gran looking after my Grandad who had been diagnosed with early onset Mixed Dementia Alzheimer’s / Vascular on 20th March 2013 after having an assessment and brain scan.
Their lives had changed dramatically and until you are affected by this condition it is difficult to really understand just how much upset it does cause.
My Mum, Cathy, of course, works with dementia clients on a daily basis, and has had first-hand experience of how it not only affects the client but also their family.
The first event, was in May 2016, a Classic Rock live concert, which took place in Club Bliss, Kirkintilloch, just outside Glasgow, Scotland.
This gig raised an amazing figure of just under £2,000 with the money being split between Alzheimer Scotland and Dementia UK.
Sadly, during the summer of 2016 my Grandad’s condition deteriorated very rapidly and he passed away on 12th September.
However, this didn’t meant that we gave up our aim of raising awareness for Alzheimer’s and Dementia and in the process, more funds for some of the organisations that work in this area and in October 2016.
Our second Memory Fest event took place in Oban, Scotland, in conjunction with a project that I was working on that I named “Challenge to Remember”.
This time, however the theme was Glam Rock with Fancy Dress and the £1,448 raised went to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
The third event, MemoryFest ‘17 was back in Club Bliss again with Classic Rock and took place in April 2017. This time raising about £700 for Alzheimer Scotland.
The last event we planned was actually a Virtual Memory Fest in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. We were lucky that artists all over Cornwall wanted to help and to sign on to Facebook Live to give us some brilliant performances and keep people at home entertained during the lock down!
This online event raised a grand total of £1,010 for Alzheimer's Society.
Get ready to mark your calendars! We are absolutely thrilled to announce that the next Memory Fest will be lighting up Wetheringsett on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026!
TOTAL FUNDS
RAISED SO FAR
£ 5,858
As mentioned on the Memory Fest story, Challenge to Remember was a project that I came up with in 2016 whilst I was living and working in Oban, Scotland.
My idea was to have people challenge me to do different things in exchange of a donation, I got challenged to do things such as paddle in the Loch Awe, find certain plants in the woods or even explore some locations in Oban.
The biggest challenge was of course organising Memory Fest Oban which we made a Halloween Glam Rock event raising just under £1,450.
The next challenge I would set myself was ''Skydive to Remember'' in 2018 whilst I was working in London as a Nanny.
I wanted to do something big, and so that is what I did!
I raised £ 700 for Alzheimer's Society.
Following those significant milestones, the fundraising efforts necessarily took a back seat. Life brought several huge, personal challenges: I navigated moving countries (not just once, but twice!), felt the strain of organizing events during the COVID-19 pandemic, and celebrated the arrival of my beautiful little boy.
These changes, while wonderful, demanded all of my time and energy, causing a temporary pause in our active charity work. However, the mission never faded.
Now, after those busy years, I am happily settled here in Suffolk, ready to pour that built-up passion and energy into the cause once more.
I am so excited to start raising funds again and make the 2026 Wetheringsett Memory Fest the best one yet!