CARERS at a nursing home for the elderly stepped out to back the Alzheimer’s Society at the weekend.

Staff of Aycliffe Care Home, plus family and friends, walked seven kilometres, from the 54-bedroom Newton Aycliffe home to Shildon, sporting tutus and colourful wigs.

Manager Jayne Davies said: “We wanted to take part in the Memory Walk to raise money to fund research to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s.

“We care for residents with Alzheimer’s and see first-hand the effect it has on the person and their family.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team for getting involved, they’re so dedicated and always give 100 per cent.

“The walk is an opportunity for us to raise money for a good cause whilst also having fun. So far we have raised over £200 with donations still to come in.”

Meanwhile, more than 5,000 people took part in the North-East’s biggest ever Memory Walk.

Saturday’s event, down a 7k coastal course southwards from Bents Park, South Shields, raised an estimated £362,000 towards research and treatment to support those living with the debilitating condition.

The walk was officially started by BAFTA award-winning actor John Middleton, whose Emmerdale character, vicar Ashley Thomas, died following a long-running storyline that chronicled his decline after being diagnosed with dementia.

The father-of-two, who has lived in Newcastle and Whitley Bay, said: “There’s a fantastic atmosphere here today and for me it’s almost like coming home – you can almost see ‘wor hoose’ from here!

“I loved playing Ashley and the dementia storyline in particular – it has been the role of my life so far.

“I could have walked away from this story once filming had finished, but I can’t – in fact I can’t walk away from this story for the rest of my life because I now realise how many people are affected by dementia, and something must be done about it.

“I’m delighted to be here to support Alzheimer’s Society – it gave me so much help when I was researching my storyline – my eyes have really been opened about dementia and I’m willing to dedicate myself to the cause for the rest of my life”

He added:  “The Alzheimer’s Society takes the view that you can live well with dementia and that’s true – we have seen that today with many people who have the condition taking part.

“But what we are working towards is a world without dementia – that’s what people are walking for and that’s what the money we have raised today will help to achieve.”

Walkers Sandra McFarlane, 61, of North Shields, was walking for both her parents, and was joined by daughter Carly Middleton, 28, and friend Christine Darn, 62.

Sandra said: “I lost my mam Evelyn in February and my dad Stan is currently living with dementia and is in a care home.

“Families in our situation end up grieving twice because when dementia takes hold it’s almost as if you’ve already lost them already, but then you have the inevitable to deal with also.”

Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walk Officer Rebecca Scott said: “We’re so grateful to John for his support – it makes a huge difference to have such high profile people helping us in our bid to raise awareness of dementia.

“We really could not have hoped for a better turn out. The North East Memory Walk has increased its numbers every year, but to smash the 5,000 barrier is a real milestone.

“The atmosphere has been inspirational and incredibly uplifting. It’s taken a lot of hard work to make it happen, but it has been worth every minute.”