Peter talks about what keeps him going and how he feels responsible for taking control. “bring it on” he says

Hello, it’s Peter Berry here. I think it’s been some time since I last done a diary and life moves on quite quickly for me. I very often forget whether I have left one or or not. But I want to leave one today and the last few months, since the first of November I’ve been cycling for “Cycling down Dementia”, cycling for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
As you know cycling is a passion of mine and it’s the single thing, the bicycle, that has cured many complicated problems for me. It started off by being a passion but now it’s become a very healthy obsession. Me and my cycllng friend Deb Bunt, we decided to do the 1000 mile challenge, between the first of November and the last day in January. We mastered the 1000 miles oh, a few weeks ago and I opted to take the challenge to do 1500 miles. I’ve broken the 1500 miles with still another couple, well I think it was a week to go before the end of the month. So, I’m not quite sure where I am with the mileage now but I think it’s going to be nearer the 2000 mark. It just goes to show that even though my memory is poor, even though I find certain tasks difficult, I’m still able to do what I have always loved, cycling.
Life’s not over with dementia, it’s just a little bit different. I’ve come to realise, as I’ve said before many times I’m sure, it’s about the can do’s not the can’t do’s. Having a purpose to get out and cycle in all weathers throughout the winter months has stopped me from sitting around, moping, getting depressed and thinking too much about my condition. It’s helped me to move on. There’s a lot about support about dementia, supporting younger people and older people, but we are responsible for ourselves to a degree. We are responsible to keep ourselves motivated as much as we can. Whether it’s gardening, walking, jogging, swimming, social events or, like me, cycling. You know, in the last year I’ve done just over 9000 miles on my bicycle and that’s more miles than I’ve ever done and, I think, more miles than most people do in their cars! That’s an achievement. Dementia has taken many things from me over the years, over the last four years I believe, but, I belive that with my cycling I have gained from it and that’s important.
So, I sit here today, puffing my chest out and saying “you know what, bring it on, bring on the spring, bring on the summer”. I have a new challenge for this summer, something that I’ll reveal to you later on. Something else to get my teeth into.
Thank you for listening and have a great week, whatever you do enjoy it and I’ll talk to you again soon. Bye bye.