Bloomin’ lovely Dougie Mac supporter sells craft flowers to raise funds for charity

Dougie Mac supporter Sarah Foster is using her successful craft business to help raise funds for the charity.

Sarah, who runs The Gifted Bee, is donating £1 for every ‘mini blooms bouquet’ she sells to Dougie Mac following the care both her parents received.

Sarah said: “Dougie Mac is a charity close to my heart as we have received support from its Adult and Dementia Services.

“My Dad, Keith, was diagnosed with Myeloma, a form of bone cancer in 2014. He had stem cell treatment but ended up in intensive care, so as you can imagine it was a very traumatic time.

“We received a lot of support from Dougie Mac at the time who came out to see dad and help the family. He is now thankfully in remission but recently had another cancer scare and underwent chemotherapy treatment in January and again in February.

“In August 2021 our amazing, beautiful and kind Mum, June, was officially diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease, a type of dementia, at the age of 64. Dad had been saying for a while he thought mum was forgetting things.

“When Dad needed chemotherapy treatment at the beginning of the year he became extremely ill and was hospitalised for two weeks. My younger sister, Gemma, and I took over caring for Mum and it became apparent how much support she needed with such things as personal hygiene and cooking.

“We just didn’t know where to go for help so I contacted Dementia UK who suggested I contact a group locally and so I got in touch with Approach – now Dougie Mac Dementia Services  – who were very supportive and told me exactly what I needed to do.

“Dad and I went along to one of the support groups to get more information and it was extremely useful. I even completed a nine-week dementia training course.

“I am so thankful to the team. The support the Dementia Services team provide – not only to the person with dementia but also to the carers – is so valuable. After Dad got back home, they even called me to see how everything was. It’s the little things they do to go above and beyond that really count.

“Mum is not old and is physically well but it is strange how dementia has changed her. She’s always been a very kind and loving person, very mild-mannered and that is coming out even more now but there are things she doesn’t do any more and that is difficult to see. She has stopped baking and knitting – things she used to love doing – and socially, she’s not as confident. It’s very sad.

“I’ve noticed the changes each time I see mum – a little bit of her is lost each week. She has four grandchildren and we used to go on holiday together and have done so much as a family, so I’m glad the grandchildren can have those memories of her how she used to be. You have to remember the positives.”

Sarah is now raising funds for Dougie Mac by donating £1 from the sale of every mini blooms bouquet she sells to say thank you for the care both her parents have received. The blooms, which retail for £6.50 are available on Sarah’s website here.

Pictured: Sarah’s Mum June and Dad Keith