ADVENTUROUS nurses will walk part of the Great Wall of China to raise money to help people with Alzheimer’s disease.

The group of nurses, from the Berkeley ward at Newtown Hospital in Worcester, are going to walk 90 miles in six days.

Staff nurses Tanya Knibbs and Davina Laverick, deputy ward manager Pam Butts, nursing assistants Roberta Darling and Jenni Bluck, community psychiatric nurse Yvonne Richards and a colleague Karen Pearce will be going to China next May.

Many of the patients on Berkeley ward have Alzheimer’s disease and these nurses see the devastating effects on sufferers and family, friends and colleagues.

This inspired them to try to raise £21,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society, which is the leading UK care and research charity for dementia.

Not only does an early diagnosis significantly improve the quality of life for the affected person, but delaying the onset of dementia by five years would save about 30,000 lives a year.

Dr Ros Keeton, chief executive of the Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, who recently completed the 26.2-mile Moon Walk said: “I am full of admiration for these nurses – 90 miles is going to be hard work even over six days.

“I will watch their progress and I am pleased they will be raising money for a cause that is close to all that we do.”

Anyone interested in making a donation or sponsoring the team can do so at just giving.com/worcesternurses.

Offers by local companies or organisations of advertising or sponsorship would be gratefully received by the team who can be contacted via the trust’s Christine Marsh on 01905 681517.