Walking the John O’Groats Trail: It showed me how dementia touches so many people’s lives

About this recording

In May 2024, Frank Stephen completed a 14-day trek up the John O’Groats Trail in aid of Alzheimer Scotland. Initially he set a target of £2500 but ended up raising £35,500, including gift aid.

Frank’s wife Moira had been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2019 and she moved into Seaview House care home in Wick in August 2023. “I thought I had to try and do something positive and take something positive from it,” Frank explains in this recording.

The John O’Groats Trail is officially a 147-mile route but Frank walked a total of 175 miles, taking detours up Fyrish Hill and Ben Bhraggie. He reflects on each stage of the journey and how he walked with different people most days.

Frank also talks about the “amazing scenery” he encountered as he made his way north and shares some snippets of history associated with different locations along the way. He also reveals his favourite part of the trail. “I've lived over 50 years in Caithness now and I didn't realise what I hadn’t seen until I did this walk,” Frank points out.

Reaching John O’Groats he was greeted by daughters Jo and Aileen, along with Jo’s children Anya and James, and a large crowd of supporters including local Alzheimer Scotland representatives. Frank’s three sisters were also there.

Frank, a retired vet who lives in Thurso, describes it as a case of “keep right on to the end of the road”. He says: “It was really emotional. I think the whole experience also showed me how much dementia touches so many people’s lives. I just found it very touching – it was just unbelievable how people got behind the whole thing.”

Moira, a retired primary school teacher, passed away in Seaview House just two weeks after Frank finished his walk. The couple had been married for almost 48 years.

At the end of the recording, Frank talks about the voluntary work he has done since then for Alzheimer Scotland and as part of the National Dementia Carers Action Network.

The photos show some of the scenes from Frank’s arrival at John O’Groats at the end of his 175-mile walk in May 2024, as well as one while he was walking at Whaligoe and others in Wick taken prior to setting off.