Charlotte Foster Podcasts has teamed up with Dementia Adventure to produce the “D Tour," podcast.
The series documents 60-year-old Harriet Thomas’s 900-mile walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Inspired by her mother, who lived with dementia, Harriet aims to raise £25,000 for Dementia Adventure, a charity dedicated to enhancing the lives of those affected by dementia through nature-based activities.
The D Tour captures personal anecdotes, expert interviews, as well as Harriet's unique blend of music and nature. Each episode features special guests, including local dementia-welcoming businesses Harriet visits along her way.
As a passionate singer-songwriter, Harriet combines her love of music with her enjoyment of the
outdoors. She will choose tracks to match her mood and write poetry and songs to reflect her experiences.
This series encourages listeners to embrace the present moment, find joy in simple pleasures, and challenge perceptions of dementia.
The first full episode is out today, Friday 9th August and then every Friday until November allowing listeners to follow Harriet’s journey as she travels the length of the UK.
Approximately 900,000 people live with dementia in the UK, a number expected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040. For every mile Harriet walks, she represents 1,000 people with dementia, each with unique lives and stories. This journey emphasises the importance of supporting each person (alongside their family and carers) to lead more active and fulfilled lives.
The “D” in "The D Tour" stands for dementia, a detour from everyday life, the vitamin D from the outdoors, and a new way of thinking about dementia. Most importantly, it’s about community—ensuring that no one feels alone in their journey.
This is not just a walk; it’s a challenging journey with a mission to raise awareness and funds.
Every penny Harriet raises will be used to top up the Dementia Adventure Support Fund, ensuring continued support for families that need it the most.
The Fund can be used to contribute towards the cost of a holiday or towards something that is creating a barrier to someone taking part in a holiday, such as transportation or appropriate clothing. Over the last 10 years, players of People's Postcode Lottery have raised over £3 million for Dementia Adventure, enabling the charity to provide ongoing support and hope to families living with dementia through a variety of services. These include online support sessions offering positive, practical solutions and ‘real world’ guidance, training for professionals, and the innovative Green Letter Days, which offer regular outdoor experiences to uplift spirits and create cherished memories.
Dementia Adventure encourages positive risk-taking for people living with dementia, believing that with the right support, many people with dementia can lead more active and fulfilling lives.
Many people with dementia experience a 'shrinking world' whereby the boundaries to their social and physical worlds gradually constrict over time, leading to a loss of control and independence. Dementia Adventure aims to combat this by promoting activities that allow individuals to regain a sense of freedom and connection with the world around them.
Dementia Adventure is grateful for the support of its sponsors. They have partnered with Macs Adventure, the headline sponsor, and other supporters including Land & Water, Watergate Bay, and Music for Dementia to cover the costs of podcast production and offer exciting prizes.
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