WALKERS put their best feet forward to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

People gathered in Ulverston yesterday to make strides towards raising the profile around the degenerative brain diseases that have become one of the country’s biggest killers.

Donning blue T-shirts with names of loved ones on the back, participants strolled a variety of distances for the Memory Walk, held at the GlaxoSmithKline Sports and Social Club, aiming to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

A short walk of around 1km took place around the club’s sports field and longer walks of around 2.5km and 5km took in sections of the canal path as around a dozen people took part.

The walk was organised by GSK sports club administrator Audrey Johnson, who has first-hand experience of caring for a loved one with dementia.

Ms Johnson, 60, said her parents have both experienced dementia and Alzheimer’s and it was important to raise as much awareness as possible.

She said: “It was nice to see people come along and do the walk.

“We had members of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Community Mental Health Team for older adults who were there to offer advice and support.”

She added: “So many people and their families are affected by these kinds of diseases. My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and my mum experienced similar problems.”

Dementia is now said to be among the biggest killers across the country with someone developing it every three minutes.