The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Olive Munro, from Perthshire, is taking on a fundraising challenge by walking across Europe with her husband after she was diagnosed with dementia.
Olive pledges to walk for research ‘before I am no longer able’
A woman facing up to a dementia diagnosis is taking on a mammoth walking challenge to help raise funds for medical research.
Olive Munro, 67, and her husband Ronnie, 73, are embarking on a threemonth trek across Europe in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK.
The couple live on the south side of Loch Tay at Ardtalnaig. Mr Munro is a former member of the band of The Black Watch
Olive said: “I have been diagnosed with dementia and felt I would like to do something before I am no longer able.
“Dementia runs through the female side of our family. It is very mild at the moment but will become more recognisable in four or five years.
“I always wanted to be tested. It is better to be pre-warned and, as a result, we decided to do the walk.”
On May 1 the couple set off on the Camino de Santiago walk, the ancient pilgrim path also known as the Way of St James.
“The challenge we set out for ourselves takes a normal fit person six weeks but being realistic, we are taking 90 days,” said Olive. “We leave from St Jean Pied de Port, France, walk over the Pyrenees Mountains and across the north of Spain to Santiago.
“We will walk 780km (484 miles) carrying what we need in backpacks and staying in hostels.
“Ronnie and I are doing this to raise money for dementia research, hoping to raise £10,000.
“Dementia has been featured prominently in the news lately and the devastation it causes. We just want to make people aware. If anyone wants to give a couple of pounds that would be great — every little helps.”
The couple’s online fundraising page can be found at mydonate.bt.com/ fundraisers/olivemunro1