My name is Tony and I have been living with vascular dementia for 4 years.
In 2018, when I was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, I started noticing changes to my memory. It started with being unable to keep up with conversations about my treatment options, which some would say is understandable, but I knew something wasn’t right when I was forgetting day-to-day things. For me, the forgetfulness is still one of the most infuriating things about it. How could you not know who your grandchildren were in name terms?
Ever since we walked through the doors of the Clydebank Dementia Resource Centre, the staff wrapped their arms around us, and the support opened up our world. My wife Angela and I are members of the Every Voice Community Choir, something I never thought I’d say given I cannot sing! But I do enjoy it and it’s brought me a wonderful group of friends. We’re well-known for our performance of ‘Lean on Me’ - the lyrics speak volumes as we have been leaning on Alzheimer Scotland now for many years. I don’t know where we would be without the charity.
But it’s more than the support – it’s the role Alzheimer Scotland allows me to play as Tony the former MP, not just Tony the person who has dementia. Helping drive policy and striving for change connects deeply to me. I find myself attending meetings, having structure to my life again and sharing my own experiences to help shape the future for someone else.
This festive season, Angela and I will be counting our blessings that we have friends through Alzheimer Scotland who understand the illness I live with. This includes other people living with dementia and carers, a wonderful Dementia Advisor, an incredible Choir Master and campaigning peers who believe as passionately as I do that the inequities people with dementia face should end, and end now. We are connected, and for that we feel lucky.
But, there are always more ‘Tony and Angela’s’, and we feel so strongly about giving Alzheimer Scotland the best possible chance to support more people. Times are difficult for many people just now – but if you can donate to Alzheimer Scotland this winter, we would be so grateful.
Your donation matters to me, to the Choir and to the thousands of people who lean on Alzheimer Scotland for support.
Warm wishes
Tony Worthington
