HELENSBUGH and Lomond residents are being invited to get their walking shoes on to help those with dementia.

Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walk allows those taking part to walk anywhere, with anyone and any day over the Memory Walk weekend, September 15-17.

It could be a lap of a garden, a stroll along the shore, or a walk that is significant to family and friends.

Organisers say the distance doesn't matter - they just want everyone to get involved and help those living with dementia in Scotland.

A mass Memory Walk used to be a regular feature of Helensburgh's events calendar, but since Covid it's been more of a solo or family event, with members of the Helensburgh Garelochside Rotary Club - now Lomond Rotary - among the regular local supporters of the event.

Stephanie McLeod, who took part in last year’s Memory Walk, said: “In 2022 it was just myself, my daughter, Ainsley. She’s nine and she’s never known what my mum was like before dementia.

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"Ainsley’s always been close to my mum, she and her gran have such a special bond. We had a lovely walk together and we talked about my mum, just the two of us.

“I felt a lot better after the walk. We’d done something meaningful, really made a difference. Loads of my friends have said they want to take part with us this year.

"There’ll be a big crowd of us, all walking together for people with dementia and raising funds for Alzheimer Scotland.”

Kirsty Stewart, executive lead for stakeholder engagement at Alzheimer Scotland, added: “Scotland’s Memory Walks have become a firm favourite in our annual fundraising calendar and is such a special way of bringing communities together.

"I’m always blown-away at how Scotland comes out en masse, emblazoned in purple, to raise awareness of dementia, share their experiences, and raise vital funds.

It's free to sign up at memorywalk.alzscot.org.