Aiesha is taking on the Manchester Half Marathon for dementia carers
The value of having people around you when you need them most
On the 4th October 2026, Aiesha will take on the Manchester Half Marathon in support of Dementia Carers Count.
Nobody should face life’s toughest challenges alone Aiesha, fundraiser for Dementia Carers Count
For Aiesha, the Manchester Half Marathon represents more than the challenge of covering 13.1 miles. It marks 15 years since she made the life-changing decision to stop using her walking frame and begin walking independently.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a young child, Aiesha relied on a walking frame to help her move around safely and build her strength. While it provided invaluable support, it also brought challenges, particularly as she moved into mainstream education where navigating classrooms and school life wasn’t always straightforward.
Over time, Aiesha’s confidence and mobility grew. By the age of 11, following discussions with her family and healthcare professionals, she made the decision not to take her walking frame with her to secondary school.
Fifteen years later, she is preparing to run a half marathon.
Reflecting on her journey, Aiesha says:
I have been fortunate. My cerebral palsy is relatively mild and, unlike many conditions, it is not degenerative. That meant improvement was possible – a privilege not everyone living with a disability has.
But Aiesha’s story is also shaped by another experience.
Losing grandparents to dementia
When she was 15, her grandfather was diagnosed with dementia. In the years that followed, two more of her grandparents received the same diagnosis. By the age of 24, she had lost three grandparents to dementia.
Those experiences reinforced a lesson she had learned throughout her own life: nobody should face life’s toughest challenges alone.
Aiesha is taking on the Manchester Half Marathon for dementia carers
Whether that lesson came from growing up with a disability or from watching loved ones navigate dementia, I learned the value of support, care, and having people around you when you need them most.
Every day, dementia carers provide extraordinary care for the people they love, often while feeling exhausted, isolated and overwhelmed themselves. Dementia Carers Count is there to ensure carers receive the practical advice, emotional support and understanding they need, while campaigning for lasting change.
By sponsoring me, you’ll be helping Dementia Carers Count continue providing vital support to carers when they need it most.
Aiesha is also keen to recognise the people who have supported her own journey. She credits her family for encouraging her every step of the way and thanks those whose support in improving her strength and mobility has helped prepare her for the challenge ahead.
While she’s not focused on setting a record-breaking time, she is determined to reach the finish line.
Running for dementia carers
Just as I was determined to leave my walking frame behind 15 years ago, I am determined to cross that finish line. Aiesha, fundraiser for Dementia Carers Count
With heartfelt thanks to Aeisha, her story is truly inspirational. We wish her the best of luck!
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