AIF Dementia Bakesale

I'm raising funds for people with dementia

My Story

When I was 11 years old, my Pa passed away after living with Parkinson’s dementia disease. He was someone who played a very important role in my life and in bringing our family together.

Pa was a loud, humorous and outgoing person. He was always sarcastic and up for a joke, but was also a respectful man who had a lot of wisdom. He was involved with the Paskeville Football Club and was a passionate member of his community. He was often working on the farm and was not usually the person cooking in the kitchen, but he was always a big part of our family meals.

Some of my favourite memories of Pa and Granny involve food and cooking. I spent many weekends at their house, where we would cook, play board games and spend time together. Every Friday night, our family would have “Friday drinks” at their house. As Pa's dementia progressed, these were eventually moved to the nursing home so that we could still spend this time together.

Dementia gradually affected Pa's ability to remember people and things around him. I remember visiting him in the nursing home and him no longer being able to recognise who I was. As an 11-year-old, this was difficult to understand because I remembered Pa as the person who had always known me.

On my 11th birthday, I had one wish: for Pa to stay around forever and to be himself again. He passed away one month later.

Although Pa could no longer recognise many of the people around him, I noticed that familiar food could still create positive responses. Granny was always cooking and baking for our family, and Pa loved everything she made. One of the things I remember was his reaction to Granny's cream roll. Even when his memory had significantly declined, he would still enjoy eating it.

This helped me understand that food can be connected to memories, routines and feelings of familiarity. While dementia affects everyone differently, familiar activities such as cooking, baking and eating familiar foods can be meaningful ways of creating comfort and connection.

What is dementia?

Dementia is a term used to describe a group of conditions that affect the brain. It can affect memory, thinking, communication, behaviour and a person's ability to complete everyday activities. 

Dementia does not only affect the person diagnosed. It can also have a significant impact on their family, friends and carers, who may need information, support and guidance throughout the person's journey.

Why I am fundraising

For my AIF project, I am raising funds to support people living with dementia, as well as their families and carers.

On Friday, 2 October, I will be holding a fundraiser selling Cornish Pasties for $5 each.

I chose cooking as part of my fundraiser because it connects to some of my own experiences with Pa. Cooking is also an activity that can help create familiar routines and sensory experiences, such as familiar smells, tastes and textures, which may be meaningful for some people living with dementia.

All funds raised will support the work of Dementia Australia, which provides support services for people living with dementia, their families and carers. These services include counselling, support groups, education and training.

For me, this fundraiser is a way to connect something I enjoy — cooking — with something that has had a significant impact on my family. I hope that by sharing Pa's story and raising funds, I can help increase awareness of dementia and contribute to supporting other families affected by it.

Please consider making a donation to support my fundraiser and help me reach my goal. Every contribution will help support the important work of Dementia Australia.