Dementia NI’S single and video hit all the right notes

Co Down singer Cora worked with charity members to help write uplifting song

DEMENTIA NI has released a single and music video to mark Dementia Action Week.

Written by charity members and Co Down singer Cora Kelly, it aims to raise funds to help battle the condition and is available to download now.

It is also hoped the track will give those recently diagnosed with dementia reassurance that they aren’t alone and will highlight the support available to help them live as well as possible.

Members of the charity, all of whom are living with dementia, created the lyrics to The Journey, with Kelly writing the music.

The song shines a light on what it feels like to receive a diagnosis, with each verse representing a different stage in that journey. Dementia Action Week starts today.

A heart-warming video accompanies the tune, starring Dementia NI members and giving insight into their day-to-day lives.

Charity member Martin Murtagh (72), from Belfast, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease when he was 63.

He explained that the title of the track came from “the journey you go through when you receive a dementia diagnosis”.

“I was in a bad place when I got my diagnosis, but it takes time and strength to come to terms with it. People need to know that there is help out there, from family, friends and organisations like Dementia NI,” he said.

Prior to being diagnosed, Mr Murtagh explained that he knew something was wrong as he had begun to throw out things like money and his keys.

He also started to get lost when out and about.

“When I eventually got my diagnosis, my consultant just told me I’d be alright and gave me basically no information,” he said.

“I felt like my life was over and went home and broke the news to my four sons.

“There were a million things going through my head and I was worrying about how I was going to live my life with it.”

Mr Murtagh said it was only when he began to accept his diagnosis that things got better.

“When I didn’t try to hide it from people, it made life a lot easier,” he said. “I then reached out to Dementia NI for support from their empowerment groups which literally changed my life and helped me to connect with other people with a diagnosis at a time when I felt very low.

“It gave me hope and a will to carry on and made me realise I could have a good life,” he added.

“Stepping into a room with eight or nine different people going through the same thing and having craic was just brilliant.

“I was a sad person before I went into that room and left a happy person.”

Mr Murtagh said that, since becoming a member of Dementia NI, he has given public speeches and talks to schools, hospitals, care homes and various businesses on his experience with dementia and seeking to raise awareness of the charity’s initiatives.

“Joining the charity and doing these talks has improved my confidence so much, this is what keeps me going,” he said.

“People think because you have dementia, you can’t do anything, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.”

He explained musician Kelly came to their empowerment groups and listened to everyone’s diagnosis stories, adding a line from each person into the lyrics.

“It moves me to tears when I listen to it,” Mr Murtagh said.

“It’s very true to what those of us who have received a diagnosis are going through and the project really was a group effort.”

The Killough singer-songwriter said that it was “a pleasure” working with Dementia NI members.

“My meetings with them have challenged my own assumptions about dementia. It’s fantastic that Dementia NI members are so positive and are living happy and fulfilled lives.

“They’re doing an amazing job in bringing awareness to this condition,” she said.

Dementia NI communications lead, Jane Gillow, said: “We couldn’t be prouder of our members for creating such inspiring lyrics and sharing the message that there is still life to live following a diagnosis.

“Research shows that one in three of us will develop dementia in our lifetime.

“We want to highlight that our empowerment groups are here for those with a diagnosis of dementia to access life-changing peer support, make new friends and be part of their community.”

Dementia NI has around 14 empowerment groups operating across Northern Ireland which helps to provide a place for people who have been diagnosed with dementia, and are in the early to middle stages of the condition, to come together to provide life-changing peer support to one another.

‘Joining the charity and doing these talks has improved my confidence so much, this is what keeps me going’

The Journey is available to download on itunes and the video can be watched on www.dementiani. org, with a link to donate above the video