Journal

Today I reached London after walking approximately 550 miles from Land’s End. When I set out on August 1, I knew the distance, but I could not know what each day would bring. I am grateful to everyone who walked with me, welcomed me, shared their story, or followed the journey from home.

I came to the UK a year after walking across the United States. This was a shorter walk, but it asked something of me each day: to get up, pay attention to the route, and keep going. The route took me from Cornwall through towns along the southern coast, including Lymington and Brighton, then on to Dover and Canterbury. I was particularly excited to walk along the White Cliffs of Dover, a place I have always wanted to see.

In Lymington, I visited Linden House, a care home for people living with dementia. I spent time with residents, families, and staff over tea and talked about my diagnosis and the changes I made afterward. It was one of the occasions when I could speak with people whose lives had been directly affected by the disease and hear from them in return.

In Canterbury, I visited the former St. Alphege Church building, now used by a secondary school. My ancestors were married there centuries ago. It was a personal stop on a walk that had brought me across an ocean and across England.

The conversations I had throughout the route stay with me. People spoke about parents, partners, and friends affected by Alzheimer’s. Some asked what I had done after my own diagnosis. Others wanted someone to hear what their families had been through.

I was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s at 67. My mother and four of her brothers had lived with the disease. I knew its effect on a family, and I wanted to understand what I could do about my own health. With Dr. Dale Bredesen’s guidance, I looked at possible contributors to my cognitive symptoms and made changes in nutrition, movement, and sleep. Over time, my symptoms improved. That is my experience; I know that each person’s circumstances and response to care are different.

One message I shared throughout the walk was to take changes in memory or thinking seriously. If you notice something, speak with a health professional and ask about an assessment. It can be tempting to wait or to assume that nothing can be done. Finding out what is happening gives you and your family information to work with, and it may open the door to care and support sooner.

I also wanted people to see that a diagnosis does not erase the rest of a person’s life. At 82, I have now walked across the United States and from Land’s End to London. Those are choices I was able to make; they are not a standard anyone else needs to meet. Living an active, vibrant life can mean many things. It might be walking, spending time with family, pursuing an interest, or doing something that gives the day purpose. A person living with Alzheimer’s is still a person with interests and plans.

I could not have completed this walk alone. Thank you to the people who helped me along the route and to the communities that welcomed me. Thank you, too, to those who told me about their experiences, whether we spoke in person or you wrote to me from somewhere farther away. I will carry these conversations into the work ahead. I also want to thank Vielight, Apollo Health, LifeSeasons, Wigwam Wellbeing, UCAN, Xero Shoes, and CareScout for supporting this walk.

I have finished walking to London, but I will continue my work with the Alzheimer’s Survivors Foundation. I want to keep encouraging people to ask questions about brain health, seek help early, and see what remains possible after a diagnosis.

Judy

Watch Judy cross the finish line here.