OFTEN, the only way to get through the most trialling times and heartache is to think about the good memories and look on the brighter side of life. It’s those memories that keep families fighting against the hardest times together.

For one brave family in Bridport, that means reminiscing about a loving father and husband, and the great memories they have of a man who gave his whole life to entertaining others – but is now bedridden and battling against vascular dementia.

Jon Lee, from Loders, spent over thirty years on stage and running the stables at Freshwater Beach Holiday Park – helping create magical memories for thousands of families.

Today, his own family, and his daughters Kristy Stordy and Tracey Eden from Bridport, want to raise awareness for the illness they call ‘cruel’ that has led to their father losing his own memories and needing to be spoon fed for the rest of his life.

They want a ‘world without dementia’ and for other families not to have to face the same heartache.

Over 40 members of the family and friends are coming together for a memory walk on September 17 from the Co-operative in Bridport to the Marquis of Lorne in Nettlecombe to fundraise for Alzheimer’s Society.

The walk will pass Kristy and Tracey’s parents home, where their mother Kim cares 24 hours a day, seven days a week for her husband.

Kristy said: “It’s remarkable to see as a family us making something positive out of a negative thing.

“We watched a man who entertained hundreds every night as an entertainer, a very talented musician who owned a stables and was riding horses for over 40 years, suddenly forgetting how to tie his shoelaces.”

Jon Lee, now 73, was diagnosed in 2011 with vascular dementia aged just 69. He had a triple bypass in 2011 and from there, things seriously deteriorated.

Kristy said: “When he came round from surgery we knew something was wrong. It was never the same since then.

“Our whole lives changed, he was classed as a very young person to get it.”

Kristy said the family started noticing something wasn’t right when her father started making little mistakes and was making mistakes on stage. The family initially put it down to clumsiness and confusion.

Kristy’s sister, Tracey, said: “We would think he was joking and would laugh – almost nervously, and you would feel bad because you wouldn’t realise he was being serious.

“He always did lose things but it was more noticeable.

“So much has happened.”

Kristy said: “It’s cruel and to see someone you love so much deteriorate is heartbreaking. It’s been a while since he recognised us. It reminds you how bad it is.”

Kristy and Tracey both said their mother Kim has been ‘amazing’ and hasn’t left their father’s bedside since his diagnosis.

Kristy said: “Last year when he deteriorated with pneumonia she sat by his bed every day.

“At Christmas he had chest infections one after the other so the doctors thought this was it. He’s been in bed ever since.

“It was such a dark time, but he’s still here. He’s a stubborn one and fights it.

“He’s had bed sores and it’s been a miracle that they went – that’s my mum caring for him. She wants him to have his dignity.”

Jon Lee and Kim have five children and ten grandchildren. They married in true showbusiness style in Las Vegas in 2002.

Kristy said: “Marie Curie, Weldmar Hospicecare Trust and Agincare send nurses or carers three times a day, but sometimes they are so busy.

“Mum keeps him in a routine – he has to be turned so many hours per day to air him.

“She barely leaves the house.

“She wouldn’t leave him, she’s terrified something will happen.

“I don’t think she ever realises just how much she does. The reason he is still alive is her.

“She says he is the love of her life. She said til’ every last breath she would look after him.”

Tracey added: “After hospital they recommended he go into a care home but she wouldn’t let it happen.

“He knows when she is around, if she’s not around he is not happy. He sometimes wouldn’t believe it is her if she goes out for a moment.”

Tracey said: “He’s reached a point now where a simple cold would kill him.”

There’s no doubt about how much Jon Lee is loved by his family and how strong the family support has been.

The two sisters smile and laugh as they recall the best moments of their father’s life full of entertainment, song and dance.

Kristy said: “He had a dance band that did waltzes and old school dances and would play at weekends.

“He played the trumpet and saxophone as well – he did everything.”

Jon was a familiar face for many families holidaying every year at Freshwater.

One of their best memories too was the yearly donkey derby their dad would put on too.

Tracey said: “He didn’t stop.

“He’s an amazing person. He was Freshwater. Nothing was ever too much for him.

“He made people’s holidays.”

Tracey said: “He was so active all the time, I’m sure he’s still working in his mind though.”

Kristy said: “Only last year he had a party at the village hall in Loders. We did a video for him but it was too much for him to take in. Now, the only movement he has is his hands.

“His food is all pureed and he has to be spoon fed.”

Kristy’s favourite picture of her and her father, her wedding day picture, was taken just six years ago.

She said: “Looking at him then to now being bedridden. I didn’t realise what dementia does – they slip like sand through your fingers.”

Tracey said: “You can’t believe someone can still be here but not do anything. Sometimes it’s better that he doesn’t know now.”

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia in the UK after Alzheimer’s disease, affecting around 150,000 people in the UK.

Caused by problems with blood flow to the brain, symptoms of the illness can range from memory loss, mood swings and confusion in carrying out day to day tasks.

There is no cure or specific treatment for vascular dementia.

Kristy said: “You know he is suffering. For father’s day how do you write your last card when you don’t know what to say to him.

“Being in a strong family makes so much difference.”

Kristy’s youngest children have only ever seen their grandfather with the illness.

She said: “He was sharing my two year old sons toys.

“All they know is grandad being poorly. My two year old boy always says ‘I love you grandad so much.”

Tracey said: “Until you go through something and lived through it you’ll never understand it.”

The family want the memory walk to help others in their situation and to campaign for a ‘world without dementia’.

Kristy said: “We want everyone to be involved. Mum’s putting cakes and refreshments on.

“People want to join and it’s nice.”

Kristy’s phone interrupts us. She says its another donation coming through on the Just Giving page the family have set up.

She said: “Everytime it pings, someone else has donated and it’s incredible.”

Donations have been flying in from people that remember Jon Lee on stage, or have just been touched by the family’s fight.

Kristy said James and Helen Cross from Coneygar Lodge are ‘amazing too’.

The proceeds from the lodge’s annual fete on September 10 will be going to Alzheimer’s Society.

Kristy said: “That’s lovely when that happens and people don’t even know you.

“How many people you are touching and affecting is incredible. It’s awareness we want to promote.

“We’ve had so much feedback. The messages that come through on Facebook make me cry every time. They tell the best memories.”

Kristy: “I want the day to be seeing people and talking about the funny things he did.

“It’s going to be a lovely atmosphere. It’s going to be sad but one day maybe a family won’t have to go through what we’ve been through.

“The money raised is going towards raising awareness and paying for treatment for dementia patients so that maybe just one day a world without dementia might be achievable.”

To sponsor the family’s walk, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/MW16kristystordy