A number of events are taking place across the county to mark Dementia Awareness Week, which runs until Saturday, 20 May.
Organised by the Alzheimer’s Society, the national awareness week aims to unite people against dementia as well as providing advice and understanding around the issue.
Walk Durham, your local walking for health scheme, will be supporting the week by offering participants the opportunity to walk an extra ‘Memory Mile’ at the end of some of their usual weekly walks:
Durham (County Hall) Wednesday, 17 May 12.30pm – 1pm Memory Mile 12.30pm-1pm
Spennymoor (St. Pauls Centre) Thursday, 18 May 10am – 11am Memory Mile 11am onwards
Blackhall (Community Centre) Friday, 19 May 10.30am – 11.30am Memory Mile 11.30am onwards
Dementia Friendly Swimming sessions, which have been developed to offer a safe and friendly environment for those living with dementia or those caring for someone who does, also take place weekly in leisure centres across the county:
Freeman’s Quay Leisure Centre – every Monday, 11am-12pm
Spennymoor Leisure Centre – every Monday, 2.30pm-3.30pm
Teesdale Leisure Centre – every Tuesday, 10.30am-11.30am.
Chester-Le-Street Leisure Centre – every Wednesday, 11am-12pm
Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex in Bishop Auckland – every Wednesday, 2.30pm-3.30pm
More information on the swimming scheme will be displayed at Clayport Library in Durham, Woodhouse Close Library in Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor Library, Chester-Le-Street Library and Barnard Castle Library throughout this week.
At the beginning of June, ‘Swim a Memory Mile’ challenges will also be held at a number of pools, in which participants can swim in memory of a loved one while raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society.
People are also invited to attend a Dementia Friendly Durham event being held at Durham Town Hall on Wednesday, May 17 between 11.30am and 1.30pm, where there will be information stalls from organisations including Alzheimer’s Society and Age UK, as well as refreshments and a live band.
For more information on Dementia Friendly Swimming visit http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/7914/Dementia-friendly-swimming or www.dccswimchallenge.eventbrite.com for details on the Memory Mile challenge