Foyle walk to raise funds for Alzheimer's charity

The second Foyle Memory Walk will take place this Sunday to raise funds for an Alzheimer's charity.

The walk will begin at Ebrington Square on September 17. Registration begins at the square at 10.30am and the walk begins at 11am.

Funds raised will go to the Alzheimer's Society.

Organiser Marie Ward said she wants to see the walk build on its success last year.

“Last year I had 82 people registered who did the walk with me but my aim is to make it bigger and bigger each year,” she said.

“We raised £1026 in donations which I was delighted with. It was amazing to see so many people walking. I hope we can get somewhere between 100 and 150 walking this year.

“We also have a memory tree so walkers can write a tag to say who they are walking for and then place it on the tree. The Mayor came last year and is also booked this year too.”

Marie began fundraising after her mother passed away from Alzheimer's three years ago.

“I lost my mum to Alzheimer's disease in 2020 and I felt compelled to do something positive out of something so negative and devastating in my life so I did a challenge to raise money for the charity.

“I walked around the Craigavon and Foyle Bridges 79 times, one for each year of my mum's life, and for each walk I had a different walking partner.

“I raised over £15,000 for the charity. I then became a fundraising volunteer for them and last year I decided to start up the Foyle Memory Walk. This is the same as the memory walk done in Belfast each September. It had been done a number of years ago in the city but then had not been held since before Covid.”

The walk leaves Ebrington Square and heads over the Peace Bridge, down the Quay towards Bay Road park, round the Bay Road park and back the same route to Ebrington Square. Refreshments are provided.

Donations can be made here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/foylememorywalk

Anyone interesting in taking part can contact [email protected] or on mobile 07715800031. Marie can also be reached on email [email protected]