The smallest and cutest Ulysses rider in Wauchope this week is Chloe the dog. She and her owner Ken have come from Western Australia to raise funds to fight dementia.
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Ken and his wife, Sue were school sweethearts who married young, and had a wonderful family life raising three daughters. When Sue showed the early symptoms of dementia, it took a long time for people to realise that something was wrong, because she was only in her 50s.
But Ken knew something wasn’t right with his lovely wife, and struggled to watch Sue slowly forget all the things that she once knew well, including her relationship with him.
Ken said they were tough times but Sue had a special friend, Chloe the dog, to keep her spirits up. When Sue was admitted to hospital, Ken took Chloe to see her every day until she passed away in 2007.
Ken was heartbroken. In their youth, he and Sue had loved travelling around on a motorcycle, so Ken bought a bike with a special seat for Chloe, and they began fundraising, supported by their biker friends all over Australia.
“Our appeal is called I Ride With Chloe to Fight Dementia and we have ridden 170,000 miles around Australia, raising money and awareness for people living with dementia,” said Ken.
Dementia describes a collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain. It is not one specific disease. It affects thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks.
Some common symptoms may include:
- progressive and frequent memory loss
- confusion
- personality change
- apathy and withdrawal
- loss of ability to perform everyday tasks
There’s no prevention or cure, though some medications can reduce symptoms. Support is vital for people with dementia. The help of families, friends and carers can make a positive difference in managing the condition.
For more, go to www.fightdementia.org.au and www.iridewithchloe.com