Care home manager Jo Pammenter walks a fair distance during her working day whilst ensuring all the residents receive the best possible attention. But it’s nothing compared with ‘Trek26’ – a walk she’ll be making in September as she and many others raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society’s ‘United Against Dementia’ campaign.
Jo, who manages the 25-bed Forder Lane House Care Home in Dartington, is currently training for the 26-mile group trek along the banks of the River Dart and taking in a Devon section of the South West Coast Path.
The choice of charity was easy for Jo, who has seen the impact that dementia can have on her charges and their families during her caring career.
Once a keen runner who competed in marathons and half-marathons, including some off-road competitions, Jo has less free time now to take part in such events. But she still enjoys exercise in the great outdoors and has been putting her legs and feet through their paces on Dartmoor during periods of time off from work.
Nursing and caring for others runs in the family for Jo, whose mother is a nurse, whilst her sister Katie Vaile is a physiotherapist. Jo’s daughter is currently at university studying for a Master’s Degree in Nursing.
Jo said: “Through my job, I’ve seen at first hand the devastating effect that dementia can have on some people as they grow older and need to live in a care setting. I’d like to do what I can to raise funds for Alzheimer’s because it’s such a good cause.
“I’ll be setting off along the route on 9th September with my sister Katie alongside me and we’ll be covering 26 miles – making it a walking marathon. We’ll start near Brixham and follow a circular route taking in Dartmouth and the coastline”.
It’s a golden time for Jo to be following in the footsteps of thousands of walkers who have tackled the stunning coastal route, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Among the most celebrated of these are Raynor Winn and her husband Moth, who walked the entire route together, leading to a best-selling book entitled The Salt Path.
Forder Lane House is owned and managed by South Devon Rural Housing Association, whose Chief Executive Christine Candlish said: “We’re very proud to support Jo as she prepares to tackle the Trek26 challenge.
“Inevitably, some of our residents are in our care due to the onset of dementia and we’re pleased that our manager will be raising funds for a charity that offers support to families, as well as funding research into the condition”.
If you want to pledge support for Jo’s fund-raising walk, you can sign up on her Just Giving page at:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jo-pammenter1
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