TWO hospital workers are taking on a Great Wall of China trekking challenge to help support people with dementia.

Consultant physician Eliz Brierley, who specialises in care of the elderly, will be joining Bradford Royal Infirmary’s lead nurse for dementia Danni Woods on the adventure of a lifetime which will see them trekking around 22 miles along stretches of the Great Wall.

Money made by the duo in the run-up to National Dementia Awareness Week, which runs from May 14 to 20, will go towards the Bradford Teaching Hospital Trust’s Forget-Me-Not charity.

The colleagues are bracing themselves for terrain and altitude which will push them to their limits, especially the stretches of the Wall at Gubeikou, Jinshanling, Mutianyu and Juyongguan which are described as tough going for the five-day trek.

Dr Brierley said: “People may well be asking why we are doing this but it will be a terrific experience and at the end of the day we will be helping our patients with dementia so that’s our motivation.

“When Danni asked if I fancied taking on the challenge, I thought ‘why not?’

“We are both fully funded so everything donated goes to the Forget-Me-Not fund.”

Fellow trekker Mrs Woods said: “This is a fantastic charity and a really worthy cause.

“With the money we raise, we will be able to provide materials and equipment which can make such a difference to patients.”

Some of the resources already benefitting patients include brightly-coloured crockery which can help with visual impairment and special screens that show relevant images from dementia patients’ past lives to stimulate them into discussion and also to reduce their anxiety.

Between them, the intrepid trekkers have now raised almost £5,000, smashing their original target of £3,000 thanks to generous sponsorship from colleagues, family and friends as well as a number of fundraising local events including a beetle drive and supper, ceilidh, wine tasting, race night and treasure hunt.

So far there are 20 of the My Life reminiscence units but the pair would like to provide more.

“These units plus the other equipment we are able to buy all help to create environments which support our patients who are experiencing dementia-related difficulties.

“Our priority is to maintain a person’s independence as far as possible and make people feel relaxed, while at the same time providing a stimulating environment which provokes conversation and engagement,” said Mrs Woods.

To prepare for the momentous trek, the colleagues have been in training, which has included regular walks, swimming and visits to the gym.

“I think the variations in temperature and the terrain will really stretch us and there will be cultural challenges too,” said Dr Brierley.