A SOUTH Lakes family has taken on the task to run or walk every day to help find a cure for dementia and raise money for a charity close to their hearts.

Sue Buckley, from Kendal, along with her daughter, Lorna and her partner, Ian have joined an army of runners to help raise money for the charity Alzheimers Research UK.

The trio are doing the challenge for Sue’s daughter, and Lorna’s sister, Roberta. In January 2018, Roberta, who has Down’s Syndrome, was formally diagnosed with having dementia when she was just 48-years-old.

Since then her condition has worsened and she now lives at Kendal Care Home.

“Roberta is so lovely,” said Lorna. “She has had to struggle all her life and now this.

“It’s absolutely heartbreaking for her but also for everyone else who also has to go through this devastating condition.

“And that’s why we are doing this challenge, so we can do our bit and help raise awareness.

“It’s scary to see how this disease is increasing.”

Despite the family wanting Roberta to stay at home for as long as possible her condition had decreased so rapidly extra care was needed.

However, Lorna said it was a massive relief for the family to find somewhere like Kendal Care Home for Roberta where the support has been “truly amazing” and “brilliant”.

“Kendal Care Home has truly been amazing, and we couldn’t thank them enough,” she said.

“It’s been a relief to all of us to find somewhere where she is being properly looked after.”

Across the country nearly 4,000 people are taking part in the national ‘Running Down Dementia’ challenge and more than £150,000 has been raised so far.

The trio have been running and walking since April and will be finishing sometime in August.

“It would be really nice to get more people involved,” said Lorna

“The challenge caters for all abilities, you don’t have to run or walk fast, and you can decide on the distance.”

To donate to or if you would like to join the team and help find a cure for Dementia go on:

runningdowndementia2019.everydayhero.com/uk/robertas-runners