Aileen's spirit has inspired my US Alzheimer fundraiser

A MAN who became a full-time care worker after his wife was diagnosed with dementia aged just 48 is to cycle 4500 miles through the United States to raise awareness of the condition.

Andrew Dickson, 58, of Wester Hailes, will embark on his dream cycling trip through ten states in a bid to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland.

He became a carer after being inspired by the support he received following his wife Aileen's diagnosis and her death in 2005.

Starting out at Cape Flattery, on the northwestern tip of the States, Mr Dickson will cycle up into the Rocky Mountains and follow the high passes southwards, taking in Yellowstone National Park. On reaching Colorado Springs, his journey will turn eastwards and head over to the Atlantic, with the trip ending in Washington DC.

Mr Dickson said he was preparing for the trip by cycling between 15 and 20 miles a day, but will need to increase that distance as the date draws closer as he'll be averaging 60 miles a day on the trip.

• Follow Andrew's blog here at www.bikingacrossusa.blogspot.com/

He said raising awareness of dementia was also an important part of the journey, because most people wrongly believed that it only affects the elderly.

"There was a television programme on recently about a four-year-old girl who had a rare case of Pick's dementia, so it can affect all age groups really. (Aileen's dementia] followed an operation. Shortly after that we realised something wasn't quite right. Anything that's likely to cause damage to the brain can result in people having memory difficulties and therefore it's a dementia."

Mr Dickson said as a carer, the support he received from Lothian Early Onset Support Service, where he now works, was essential: "The girls would take Aileen out in her wheelchair for a little bit, feeding, toileting, dressing. Now, with the home support that I provide, all the clients that I'm with are able to do that, so I try and take people out to do things like go swimming, snooker, bowls, go to the cinema, so each individual is treated like an individual."

Mr Dickson said he was not setting a target for the money he is hoping to amass, but hopes to get "as much as possible", with every penny raised in his self-funded trip going straight back to the charity. He has more than enough motivation with the support of his children, Denise and Keith.

"I know that during this trip there are going to be points where I will be rock bottom. I will be sore, wet, cold and I will want to give up. And two of the main things that will keep me going is I will have Aileen kicking me up the backside and telling me stop moaning and get on. Also, with the funds that are being raised, that again will be a mental thing - keep going because I can't really let these people down."

Those interested in donating to Mr Dickson's cycle ride can do so at www.justgiving.com/AndrewKDickson