A YOUNG farmer from Callington is gearing up to trek and paddle more than 100 miles this weekend to raise money and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Society — a cause very close to her heart.

Twenty-six year old Cat Ede will be joining 29 other Cornish young farmers to unite against dementia and take on a special challenge, known as ‘WotNot’, to trek and paddle from Padstow to Torquay with the aim of raising £3,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society.

The group will leave on Saturday (April 15) and over the week will walk and canoe their way to their finishing point in Torquay on Friday, April 21.

Cat, the current chair of Cornwall Young Farmers, said: ‘Fundraising is a big part of what we do. Cornwall county and clubs combined raised more than £50,000 for different charities last year.’

Cat has very personal reasons for choosing to support the Alzheimer’s Society — her grandmother was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2007 at the age of 72.

Cat said: ‘We first noticed something was wrong when nan was distant. She was getting forgetful and was doing odd things. My grandad cared for nan in their own home for two years and then things were getting too much for him on his own, as an elderly man himself, so they both moved into our family home with my parents and sister. Nan later moved into a care home nearby where she lived for five years before passing away in 2015.

‘I think it is extremely important to raise awareness of dementia. The disease affects families as much as the person – if not more – and the need for family support is huge.

‘We lost nan in 2015 but in truth we lost her years ago. Dementia took nan’s speech as well as memory. She was so distant it wasn’t really nan sat there.

‘To think nan used to be a market gardener in the Tamar Valley, she cared for her family members both elderly and young, worked on the farm and was such a big part of our lives growing up, in seven years dementia had taken all this away.

‘I think the blessing to nan, and to us, was she didn’t know she was affected in this way. The care home was her new home and the carers were her new family. It was such a loving home and that made it easier for us.

‘Better awareness and understanding of dementia would have helped my grandad. He would have to explain himself to others, but they didn’t really know what he had to deal with.’

There are estimated to be 9,000 people living with dementia in Cornwall. Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity providing information and support, improving care, funding research and creating lasting change for people affected.

When asked about the challenge, Cat said: ‘It won’t be easy. Our feet will be carrying us over 100 miles. We will be aching all over. Our biggest day is 28 miles which is daunting, but it is a challenge after all. Sleeping on village hall floors and lack of showers will be a challenge in itself! I think it is fair to say we will be roughing it but I’m sure the team spirit will spur us on.’

To donate to the Cornwall Federation of Young Farmers Club’s ‘WotNot’ challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wotnot2017