Organisers of The Sudbury Memory Walk, Abbeycroft Leisure, have announced the return of the popular event in Sudbury on September 9th after a three-year absence from the activity calendar.
The annual event was cancelled during the pandemic but Abbeycroft were always keen to re-introduce the free walk, designed to raise awareness of dementia and raise funds for local dementia organisations.
Now in its sixth year, the event was originally the idea of local community volunteer, Jerry Thatcher, who sadly died in 2022, aged 74. Jerry was known to many in Sudbury as the ‘memory walk man’ and he tirelessly promoted the event each year in memory of his Mum who lived with vascular dementia. Jerry was passionate about helping the families of people living with dementia as well as supporting anyone with the condition, so much so, that he left a legacy gift in his will to Abbeycroft to help continue to deliver the annual walk.
Jerry’s nephew, Julian Davey said:
“As a family, we are so pleased this event is continuing. It was set up originally for my grandmother and Jerry would take her on the walk every year in her wheelchair because she loved being outside. We all know how difficult it is for people caring for dementia patients and so meeting other people in the same situation and having those much-needed conversations was the focus of Jerry’s attention.”
Tracey Loynds, Operations Director at Abbeycroft Leisure said:
“We’re very grateful to Jerry and his family for this legacy gift to enable us to deliver The Sudbury Memory Walk again, as dementia affects so many families. Research shows there are over 944,000 people living with dementia in the UK and community events such as this are at the very core of what our organisation is about.”
This year’s walk will start at Kingfisher Leisure Centre at 10:30 (registration at 10:00) and walkers can choose from a 1 or 3-mile route.
Registration is open now, although you can also turn up on the day and register and it’s completely free to take part – but donations are welcome and all proceeds will go to Sudbury Sporting Memories Group, which meets at the Kingfisher Leisure Centre every Wednesday and everyone is welcome.
Register here for this year’s walk here – https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/abbeycroft/t-gazzoxy
Donations are welcome here – https://shorturl.at/AGMV1
Jerry Thatcher (L) with friends
Previous year Sudbury Memory Walk