PhD Student Takes on Sahara Desert to Change Attitudes Towards Dementia
Tuesday, 18 February 2025
A PhD student from Worcester hopes to change attitudes towards people who live with dementia as she prepares to take on a 100km trek across the Sahara Desert.
Mary-Joy Albutt (Known as M-J), whose doctoral research at the University of Worcester is examining the links between trauma and dementia, will face 40-degree temperatures during the day and freezing cold nights as she spends five days in one of the most inhospitable environments on earth.
She said: “One of the most difficult things will be when the 40-degree heat suddenly drops and so I’ll be freezing cold, I think for me that’s going to be one of the most difficult parts!”
She’ll be taking on the challenge later this month with around 30 other people, who’ll be walking with camels as they trek for 6.5 hours each day.
She said: “I think in a situation like that you’re really going to get to know people, as you have to be your authentic self.”
M-J will also be raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society in memory of her mother, who passed away in 2022 after living with dementia for 12 years.
Alongside her studies, M-J is the Head of Dementia for a healthcare provider and is hoping her fundraising will raise awareness for people who live with dementia.
She said: “One of the main bits of misinformation about dementia is that, as people lose their abilities to relate to the world in a cognitive way, you somehow start to ‘lose’ that person.”
She continued: “The person is still there, we just have to learn how to communicate with them differently: ‘heart to heart’, instead of ‘head-to-head’
M-J is getting close to her fundraising target. To donate, follow this link to her fundraising page.
For information on courses at University of Worcester visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries, telephone 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk
