‘Great turn out’ for 2nd annual dementia Memory Walk

Debbie Abrahams MP; youth mayor, Samah Khalil; Mayor of Oldham Borough Council, Cllr Ginny Alexander; Oldham Council Leader, Sean Fielding and some of the people who joined them on the memory walk.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP, Debbie Abrahams, has thanked local people, dignitaries and the council for supporting the second Oldham and Saddleworth Memory Walk, in Alexandra Park.

The memory walk, which was in aid of Alzheimer’s Society, was about an hour long and included a guided tour around the award winning park, including explaining some of its interesting

Debbie, who is the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Dementia, and was the first MP to become an Alzheimer Society’s Dementia Friends Champion, said, “We had a fantastic morning in Alexandra Park for our second memory walk. 
 
“It’s all about raising awareness around the issue of dementia and bringing together people who are living with dementia, their carers and members of the public to help us create a supportive, dementia friendly Oldham.
 
“I must thank everyone who came along and supported us, it was a great turn out, and we estimated around 100 people of all ages and abilities joined in the walk.

"Once again, thanks to the council for their support by providing our guides, Will and Matt, and it was wonderful to be joined by our mayor, Ginny Alexander, council leader Sean Fielding, and our youth mayor, Samah Khalil.”
 
Mayor of Oldham Borough Council, Cllr Ginny Alexander, said, “The walk was really important to promote the issue of dementia and to get people involved in helping and supporting those affected.
 
“Walking round the park brought so many special memories back for me from my childhood because my parents used to bring me here. Rowing across the lake, climbing the boulders and sitting on the lions. It’s a special place.
 
“So I put a message on the memory tree in for my mum and dad who, are both not here today but, would’ve been so proud to see me as mayor of Oldham standing side by side with my MP, Debbie.”
 
Leader of Oldham Council, Sean Fielding, said: “It was lovely to enjoy this walk through Alexandra Park and see so many people wanting to raise awareness of dementia and how it affects families. 
 
“We’re committed to making Oldham a dementia friendly borough and we have over 8,500 dementia friends and I’m hoping to increase those numbers.” 
 
Youth Mayor of Oldham, Samah Khalil, said: “Being at the memory walk was important for me because I’m a Dementia Friend and I work with people with dementia, and the youth council has been supporting dementia friends for a long while now, and so it was important for me to represent young people at the event."

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