Desert trek to raise money for dementia

With just under a month to go, Avery Healthcare’s head of dementia care, Mary-Joy Albutt, is preparing to tackle a gruelling 100km trek across the Sahara Desert.

 The five-day trek, taking place from 23rd to 27th February 2025, will raise vital funds for Alzheimer’s Society, a charity that supports research and services for the over 900,000 people in the UK currently living with dementia, a number expected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.

 This challenge is deeply personal for Mary-Joy, whose mother lived with dementia for 12 years before passing away on Mother’s Day 2022.

 The trek is a tribute to her mother and a way to honour her memory while raising awareness for the condition that profoundly impacted her family.

 “I never imagined taking on something like this, but after my mum’s passing, I knew I needed to find a way to raise awareness about dementia and support families going through the same thing,” explains Mary-Joy. It’s about doing something for the future, so no one else has to go through what we did.”

 Mary-Joy joined Avery Healthcare, one of the UK’s leading healthcare providers, in 2024 as their head of dementia care, bringing her extensive expertise to enhance the company’s approach to supporting residents living with dementia.

 Now, Mary-Joy is preparing to venture across the Sahara Desert in North Africa, where temperatures soar to over 40°C by day, and the nights can be freezing.

 To prepare for the trek, Mary-Joy trained on the Maspalomas Sand Dunes in Gran Canaria in January, braving conditions similar to those in the Sahara.

 "The training was intense, but it’s motivated me even more," she says. "Every step I take in the Sahara will be for all those facing the challenges of dementia."

 Mary-Joy's fundraising goal is £2,200, which will go directly to Alzheimer’s Society. So far, she has raised over £1,300 of her target and is calling on supporters to help her reach her goal.

 For further information and to support Mary-Joy’s journey and help fund Alzheimer’s Society, visit: dasaharatrekfeb25.enthuse.com/pf/mary-joy-albutt

You may also be interested in…