Warrington's Gladiator winner backs appeal in honour of her late mum
Amanda Wah, who lives in Lymm, soared through the latest season of the BBC TV show and claimed victory in the tense grand final.
The gym owner dedicated her triumph to her mum, Allyson, who was diagnosed with a rare form of dementia at 55.
'My mum was always there for us,' said Amanda.
'She was a stubborn lady and very supportive of the whole family. She never dropped the ball.
'But she was only 55 when she was diagnosed with dementia back in 2015. She'd been having problems with her speech for a while, but the doctors put it down to menopause.
'At first she was slurring her words, but later she started to lose her speech entirely.'
Amanda dedicated her victory to her mum (Image: Alex Hughes)
Allyson was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a type of frontotemporal dementia which progressed over time.
People diagnosed with PPA can have trouble remembering words and names of objects, and others may struggle to speak at their usual speed or use words in the right order.
'When mum first got her diagnosis, we made the most of every day, taking trips and visiting places she'd always wanted to see,' said Amanda.
'We used phone apps to communicate. She didn't lose her memory, but the Covid lockdowns had a massive impact. We really saw a big deterioration and by 2023 she was struggling to eat and had lost a lot of weight.
'Things got harder for the family, especially my dad who cared for mum at home. We lost her in April 2023.'
This month, Amanda is proudly wearing a Forget Me Not badge as part of Alzheimer's Society's Forget Me Not Appeal.
Read more
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'We are so grateful to Amanda for supporting our Forget Me Not Appeal,' said Jess Mackenzie, Alzheimer's Society Regional Fundraiser for Cheshire.
'One in three people born in the UK will develop dementia in their lifetime. Dementia affects all of us.
'Every donation to the Forget Me Not Appeal helps fund crucial Alzheimer's Society services and groundbreaking dementia research.
'Everyone will have their own reason for wearing a badge, it could be in honour of a loved one receiving life-changing support, or in recognition of the groundbreaking research shaping the future for those living with dementia.'
To find out more about the appeal, and to donate, visit alzheimers.org.uk/forgetmenotappeal
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