THE ban on large gatherings may have prevented people in Helensburgh and elsewhere holding a mass Memory Walk for Alzheimer Scotland – but that didn’t stop members of a local Rotary club from doing their bit for the cause.

The Helensburgh Garelochside Rotary Club’s members donned their walking gear and set out, on their own or with partners or family members, to raise cash recently to support people in the area with dementia and their families and carers by going on their own walks in Helensburgh and the surrounding area.

And their efforts have raised £1,400 so far – with money still coming in, and the hope that the final sum may reach £2,000.

The club’s members were inspired to support Alzheimer Scotland after being given a presentation by Anne-Marie King, the charity’s dementia adviser in Helensburgh, at one of their recent Zoom meetings.

READ MORE: Alzheimer Scotland to launch online resource centre as dementia charity turns 40

As previously reported in the Advertiser, while Alzheimer Scotland’s dementia resource centre, in Helensburgh’s West Princes Street, is closed because of the pandemic, Anne-Marie and her colleagues are continuing to support people in the area who are living, directly or indirectly, with dementia in a variety of ways, online and over the phone.

Club member Sheenah Nelson told the Advertiser: “It is amazing what Anne-Marie has put in place to support local families during this very difficult time due to all the Covid 19 restrictions.

“She stressed the importance of keeping in touch to offer support, and told us about the forthcoming Memory Walk to raise awareness and funds to support dementia sufferers in the local community.

“Our president and members decided this was also something which we could get involved in. This is an excellent example of how Rotary works in partnership to support the local community.”

John Macpherson and his wife Vivien covered the seafront between Helensburgh and Rhu, while Nigel and June Box, Richard Horrell and club president Tariq Durrani all carved a variety of routes through and around Helensburgh.

READ MORE: Helensburgh hosts start of 300-mile cross border cycle for stillbirth charity

Janette and Brian Averell were up early to walk from Craigendoran railway station to Kidston Park, while a little further afield, Sheenah and her husband Moir took in the sights of Balloch and Colin Shannon and a friend walked from Loch Lomond Shores to Helensburgh via Glen Fruin.

Though unable to venture outdoors, past president Norman Quirk did his bit by completing 100 laps around his snooker table at home in Rhu.

But the greatest distance covered over the weekend was by Henry Boswell and his sons Ethan, 14, and 12-year-old Cameron, who hiked for 20 miles along stretches of the John Muir Way and the Three Lochs Way from Cardross to Garelochhead and back to Helensburgh.

Anne-Marie said: “Thank you all so much for taking part in Alzheimer Scotland Memory Walk Big Weekend and a huge shout out to everyone who has supported you in raising the money.

“I am so appreciative of Helensburgh Garelochside Rotary Club’s support with our fund-raising efforts and their interest in the work that we do.”

Click here for all the latest Helensburgh and Lomond headlines