charlotte Vermeersch

Help me raise money in honour of my Dad, Michel and the 421,000 Australians living with dementia.

On Sunday, 18 May, I'm taking part in Melbourne Memory Walk & Jog to raise funds to support Australians impacted by dementia. 

Before, I had thought of dementia as something you get when you are elderly and that it was mostly just forgetting things or people. I have to admit I really didn’t know much at all because it hadn’t impacted me directly.

It was around 2018 when people started commenting that dad (in his late 60’s) wasn’t his usual self. He was always such a charismatic man, so full of life and joy and intellect. He worked super hard his whole career and him and mum had many plans for travelling together. 

After initially being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, then alzheimers, the final diagnosis was Lewy Body Dementia with Parkinson’s. Over his last 6 years he progressively got worse and worse, from forgetting how to do simple tasks, losing his sentences mid conversation, mumbling things and not making any sense, hallucinating and getting suspicious, to needing assistance with washing and toileting and much more. 

On his last days he was a complete shell of his former self, so thin, with vacant eyes and quiet ramblings and hardly eating at all. 

This is not something you’d ever want someone you love to go through.

My dad was a lovely human, he was kind, never spoke ill of people, had a smile and a laugh so wide it was infectious, he knew so much about so many things, he absolutely loved food alot, he loved my mum and he showed it, he was proud of us and wanted the best for us, he was a very silly grandad or “papi” as my niece and nephew called him. I miss seeing him standing at the front door of my parents house always being the first to greet us when we arrived from anywhere and giving such big hugs. 

Dementia is a cause close to my heart and I would love your support.

Please make a donation to support my efforts and help us reach our goal to beat dementia.

Not many people know, but dementia is Australia's second-leading cause of death. By 2058 it's expected that over 800,000 Australians will have dementia. But we can change this.

All money I raise will support the work of Dementia Australia and help provide vital support services like counselling, support groups, education, and research to help find a cure.

Together we can achieve a lot. Your donation would mean the world to me.

Thanks for your support!