Author: Helen Green

As the 2026 Grand National approaches, last year’s winning horse, Nick Rockett, carries a quiet connection to our charity, Dementia Carers Respite.

Nick Rockett belongs to Stewart Andrew, who supports our charity because of his own experience of caring. He and his sister cared for their father, who was living with Lewy Body dementia.

“At the start, you just get on with it,” he says. “I’d go in early, make sure he was up, cook his breakfast, get him sorted for the day. My sister would go in later. You just build it into your life.” What begins as something manageable gradually becomes something much bigger. “It’s every day. And then it’s nights as well. He’d ring at all hours, confused about the time, thinking he hadn’t eaten. You can’t switch off from it.”

There are moments that stay with you. “I remember knocking on the door one morning and he didn’t know who I was. That’s when you realise you’ve lost them to the illness.” From that point on, everything changes. “You’re doing it out of love, because they’re your parent. But it becomes a one-way thing. There’s nothing coming back.”

It is something, he says, that is very hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t been through it. “Unless you’ve lived it, you don’t really understand what it takes. It drains the life out of you, not just physically, but mentally as well.”

And yet, even in the hardest moments, there are flashes of something lighter. His father had always been a smart man, always wearing a shirt and tie. “Then I’d go in and he’d have two shirts on and two ties on. You have to laugh. Those moments … they get you through.”

For Stewart, one key thing those years taught him is that breaks make a world of difference. “On a weekend, he’d sometimes go and stay with a lady friend, and that gave us a bit of respite. You could recharge. Without that, you’d be wrecked. You can’t do it 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

That understanding is what led him to support Dementia Carers Respite. “There are a lot of dementia charities, but this one really struck me because it’s practical. It’s about giving carers a bit of time back and that’s what people need.”

Through his involvement in racing, Stewart has found a way to raise awareness as well as provide financial support. His horse carries Dementia Carers Respite branding at races throughout the year, helping to bring the charity into wider public view. “I just thought, if I can use what I’ve got to get the name out there, then why not?”

For Stewart, the impact of his experience goes beyond the charity itself. It has changed how he sees the world: “Years ago, if I saw an old person stood in the middle of the road, I’d be blowing the horn and saying, ‘come on, get out of the way.’ Now I wouldn’t. I’d stop and I’d get out of the car. You realise what might be going on.”

For families caring for someone with dementia, the need for support is not complicated. “It’s as plain as the nose on your face,” he says. “People just need a bit of help to keep going.”

One in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime.
Across the UK, almost one million people are currently living with dementia — a number expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. That means around six million family members will be directly impacted by this cruel disease, which affects not only memory and cognition but also emotional , mental and physical wellbeing.
While many dementia charities do vital work, Dementia Carers Respite focuses on a unique and often overlooked need — giving family carers a much-needed break. We fund professional, dementia-trained carers to provide respite at home for families who receive no support through Continuing Health Care or local authority services, and who cannot afford private care costing up to £35–£40 per hour or £1,500 per week.
For the majority of dementia carers, life is a 24/7 responsibility. They give everything — physically and emotionally — to support their loved one. Our mission is to give them something simple but powerful: time to rest, recover, and recharge.
A Charity Growing with Purpose
In just over two full years of operation, Dementia Carers Respite has achieved remarkable recognition.
In March 2024, we were honoured to attend the Dementia Mission Reception at
10 Downing Street, followed by being named Charity of the Year by The Chiltern Hospital , and Nationwide in April and June 2025.
Now, we are proud to announce our next step — a new partnership with Fergal O’Brien Racing.
A Partnership Built on Compassion and Community
“We’re incredibly grateful to Fergal and everyone at Fergal O’Brien Racing for their support”
said Walid Marzouk Founder and Chairman of Dementia Carers Respite. “We’ve seen firsthand how passionate they are about helping others, and we know this partnership will bring more much-needed attention and support to family carers.”
Fergal O’Brien and his team have long been advocates for mental wellbeing within the racing community — an industry known for its camaraderie, compassion, and resilience.
“Caring for those who care is something that resonates deeply with all of us,” said Fergal O’Brien. “We’re proud to stand alongside Dementia Carers Respite in helping families who give so much of themselves every day.”
With shared values and a shared commitment to supporting mental and emotional wellbeing, this partnership marks the start of an exciting new chapter.
Together, we aim to raise awareness, expand our reach, and provide real relief to more families silently struggling to care for loved ones living with dementia.
Founder & Chairman
Walid Marzouk

To learn more about us
www.dementia-respite.org.uk https://www.facebook.com/DementiaCarersRespite/
https://www.instagram.com/dementiacarersrespite/ linkedin.com/company/dementia-carers-respite
To learn about Fergal O’Brien Racing
https://www.fergalobrienracing.co.uk; https://x.com/FOBRacing; admin@fergalobrienracing.com

Dementia Carers Respite - Charity Registration Number: 1202451 - Charity Commission. England 

As part of our ongoing Chiltern Dementia Friendly Project, we continue our mission to create a supportive community where people living with dementia can live well and remain active members of society as much as possible — while ensuring that their family carers receive the respite and support they need.
On 29th October, we held our third Dementia Awareness Event with the wonderful support of The Chiltern & Shelburne Hospital.
For a one-hour session, it’s always remarkable how much planning, detail, and behind-the-scenes organisation goes into making everything run smoothly. A huge thank you to everyone involved — especially our Trustee Tim Garnham, and Yin Tso, the Chiltern Hospital’s Marketing Manager, whose help, preparation, and support were invaluable.
Around 30 attendees took part in the session, which many described as both informative and eye-opening, providing a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by people living with dementia and the vital role of their family carers.
The talk was delivered by Sally Blackden, one of Buckinghamshire’s leading Dementia Specialists, who commented:
“It was encouraging to see so many people attend — especially as they gave up their lunch break to do so!”
Our Trustee Peter Helay added:
“People even came back after leaving to respond to an emergency bleep — it was excellent.”
When we commit to something, we always do our utmost to make it happen — often against the odds. We’re proud to have successfully completed our third event, and planning is already underway for a fourth, led by Cllr Rob Gill.
Together, we’re continuing to build a more understanding, compassionate, and dementia-friendly community.

Our 3rd Golf & Dinner Day at Harewood Downs held on the 2nd of October was a great success all round, with pleasant weather and enthusiastic golfers who had a good enjoyable tournament

The winning team—Graham Geldeard, Mike Thompson, and Alistair McKenzie—received a trophy and gifts from racehorse trainer Fergal O’Brien.

Our dear friend, Commander Stef Bakker managed the golf tournament and served as MC for the evening brilliantly .

Chairman Walid Marzouk opened the evening with an update on the Charity’s growing list of achievements and ongoing needs, thanking Chiltern Hospital represented by Yin Tso, Scott Mitchell, Tanya Franks, and Fergal O’Brien for supporting the event. Mr Stewart Andrew who is the Owner of last year’s Grand National also was thanked for a £1000 donation and for offering his racing colours to promote our Chairity.

Walid went on to highlight the charity’s efforts and events for raising awareness to reduce the stigma linked to Dementia. Thus creating an environment for communities supporting dementia families by making the Chilterns a Dementia friendly place and called for more volunteers.

Scott Mitchell gave a heartfelt speech about Dame Barbara Windsor and his advocacy work to find a cure and support family carers. The usual excellent Harewood Downs dinner was followed by a successful raffle opened by Cllr Rob Gill and Eastender actress Tanya Franks with almost 30 prizes given out.

Traditionally the evening ended with our ever supporting patron Eric Knowles acting as auctioneer . With all auction items sold, we raised a total of £6250, just shy of last year’s £7355 but enough to give much needed professional respite to dementia families

The event was thoroughly enjoyed by all, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2026

Saturday, 27th September was a wonderful, sunny, and fresh day at Hyde Park for a 5 and 10K run, setting the perfect scene for our Run for Charity event. The aim was to raise funds for Dementia Carers Respite, a charity that raises fund to give respite to dementia family carers who are often mentally and physically exhausted, desperate for a break to recharge their batteries.
We were really delighted to see such enthusiastic participation and support from a group of wonderful people. What was really nice as well is some made it into a family day out in London and stayed on for lunch with families or visited friends.
Chiltern & Shelburne Hospital Support
The event was fully supported by Chiltern and Shelburne Hospitals. Their remarkable staff generously gave up their day, with many undertaking dedicated training to prepare for the run. Everyone arrived bright and early, motivated and ready to give their all—an effort that truly shone throughout the day.
Generous Contributions
Runners and supporters proudly wore T-shirts kindly donated by Air Fresh Limited, based in London. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Lee, Frankie, and Mark Craze for their generous gift of 1,000 T-shirts, which will be invaluable for future events as well.
Gratitude to Key Participants
Of course, the heart of the event was the runners and coordinators, whose commitment and hard work made the day possible. We offer sincere thanks to Chiltern & Shelburne Hospitals for encouraging their staff to volunteer and help us organise and raise funds for Dementia Family Carers. A special mention must go to Yin, a longstanding and enthusiastic supporter of our charity, who always goes above and beyond with a smile. Excitingly, Yin is already looking forward to next year's event!
Thanks to the Dementia Carers Respite Team
We are also deeply grateful to everyone within the Dementia Carers Respite team, whose dedication and effort made this event a reality.
Event Highlights and Fundraising Success
Trustee Tim Garnham and I were present for the entire event, and we thoroughly enjoyed every moment. As of this morning, we have received £895 in donations, and the total is still rising. Well done to everyone involved—let’s aim to reach £1,000!
Walid Marzouk

We were thrilled to welcome members of My Town Choir to a recent meeting, where they handed over a cheque for £1028.15 raised at their 2025 summer concert in support of Dementia Carers Respite. Representing the choir were Jo Edworthy, choir director, and Cathy Bruin, one of the choir’s enthusiastic members. Our patron Eric Knowles and chairman Walid were delighted to thank them in person and celebrate this fantastic contribution.

Formed in 2019 and led by professional singer Jo Edworthy, My Town Choir has built something truly special in the community. The group exists to bring people together in two ways: by giving members the chance to make friends, socialise and enjoy the wellbeing benefits of singing in a choir, and by supporting the wider community through fundraising concerts for local charities. The charities supported are suggested and chosen by choir members themselves, and we are especially grateful to Louise Graham, whose nomination of Dementia Carers Respite meant carers and their families directly benefited from the concert’s fundraising.

The choir’s mission is simple but powerful: to share the joy of song with everyone, regardless of musical background or experience. As Jo explained to us: “Everyone has a voice. Unless there’s some physical or audiological reason, I believe that everyone can sing.” This inclusive approach has drawn in a wonderfully diverse group—from confident singers to those who once thought they were tone-deaf but have since discovered the thrill of performing in harmony.
Over time, My Town Choir has raised more than £11,000 for local causes. Their generosity and community spirit are a reminder of how music can ripple outwards, lifting not only the singers themselves but also those who benefit from their support.
For us, that means providing respite for family carers of people living with dementia—time to rest, recharge, and return with renewed energy to their vital role.

A heartfelt thank you to Jo, Cathy, Louise, and every member of My Town Choir for choosing Dementia Carers Respite. Their voices don’t just fill a hall with song – they lift spirits and change lives.

Following the success of our previous two events, we are pleased to announce our third annual Golf Day & Dinner at Harewood Downs. This esteemed venue is regarded as one of Buckinghamshire’s finest courses, renowned for its exceptional three-course meals that combine restaurant quality with excellent value and service.
Event Schedule:
11:00–12:00 — Golfers’ Reception & Rolls at the Clubhouse
12:00–17:00 — 18-Hole, Four-Ball Tournament
17:00–18:00 — Refreshments and rest for golfers
18:00–18:15 — Welcome Address from Walid Marzouk
Presentation of Golf Prizes — Commander Stef Bakker
18:15–18:45 — “Being a Dementia Family Carer” by Scott Mitchell – Dementia Champion
18:45–19:45 — Three-Course Dinner
Additional highlights include:
Raffle featuring premium prizes
Exciting Auction for High-Value Items hosted by Patron & TV Personality Eric Knowles
Fees:
Golf Day: £55 per person
Dinner/Evening: £40.00 per person
To reserve your place for the golf tournament, the dinner, or both, please email support@dementia-respite.org.uk which you can also use for general enquiries.
For information about the golf competition, contact Stef at sbkr1964@gmail.com.
For information on venue please visit website: https://www.hdgc.co.uk/

Please note: spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.