Find yourself in our South Shields Memory Walk picture special - and how your money can help fight dementia

Alzheimers Society's Memory Walk sets off from Bents Park, South Shields.

Thousands of people put their best foot forward for a Memory Walk in South Shields to raise much-needed funds for the Alzheimer's Society.

Memory Walk is a sponsored walk for all ages and abilities to unite together to raise money to defeat dementia.

The third annual South Tyneside event took place yesterday in Bents Park, and around 3,500 people turned out.

Thousands stride out in South Shields Memory Walk

The walk was started by Dick (Richard McCourt) from TV presenting duo Dick and Dom, who is an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society.

People could take part in one of three walks; an easy 1.5k, a tougher 7k and a new 22k route, which had 700 entrants.

Every pound raised funds new research, and provides precious support to more people, wherever they are, whatever they are going through.

This year more than 110,000 people UK-wide have walked united, against dementia, and the charity hopes to raise more than £9million.

How Memory Walk donations change lives.

£50

This will help for a PhD researcher to continue research into the causes of dementia, how it can be treated and, ultimately,find a cure.

£100

Could fund the equipment and resources needed for three days of a dementia researcher’s vital investigations.

£250

Could teach a group of 10 MPs vital information about dementia in a Dementia Friends session in parliament.

£500

Could pay for 700 copies of the Alzheimer’s Society’s new Understanding Your Diagnosis booklets, helping those recently diagnosed with dementia understand more about the condition and how to come to terms with some of the feelings they might be having.

£1,000

Could pay for the charity to run an indoor stand on its Dementia Community Roadshow for a week, allowing it to reach a range of people affected by dementia and provide them important information on living with the condition.