THOUSANDS people put on their walking shoes to raise vital funds for the Alzheimer’s Society. (Saturday, September 19).

The Alzheimer’s Society Tyneside Memory Walk set off on the banks of the NewcastleGateshead Quayside after the ceremonial ribbon was cut by television agony aunt Denise Robertson.

Among those taking part were the grief-stricken family of former Byker Grove star Donna Air, who overcame personal heartache to help people with dementia.

Donna’s mother, Marie Air, was left devastated when her beloved mother, Mary Lackenby, tragically lost her fight against cancer on Thursday night at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

But despite her loss, Marie honoured a long-standing commitment to take part in the after being inspired to raise funds for the charity by father, Joe Lackenby, who has dementia and lives in a care home.

Marie was joined by daughter, Francesca, and her brother, Joe Lackenby, for the Memory Walk that saw a record-breaking 2,500 people head to the Quayside in a bid to raise £100,000 for the charity.

Marie said: “It’s been a really tough time, but my mum was so looking forward to us doing the Memory Walk so there was no question of us not taking part.

“She knew how important it was to fight dementia. She took it really badly when my dad went downhill with Alzheimer’s. She found it incredibly painful to watch dad suffer because they’d spent almost all their lives together and hardly spent a day apart.

“It’s also really sad that he wasn’t there at the end of her life, to share that as well because of his dementia. He is totally oblivious to the fact that his wife has passed away."

Marie, who lives in Forest Hall, added: “Going to see him on Friday just underlined for me that dementia is a living death when you get to the advanced stage where dad is now. You lose your parents twice with dementia.”