A DAUGHTER whose father is suffering from dementia, and who helped raise more than £6,000 last year for Alzheimer's Society, is travelling to China for her next challenge to raise more money for charity.

Jon Lee, from Loders, spent more than 30 years on stage and running the stables at Freshwater Beach Holiday Park.

Today, he is bedridden with vascular dementia and doesn't even recognise his own family.

His daughter Kristy Stordy, from Bridport, and her family last year shared their story to help raise awareness for the disease and funds for Alzheimer's Society.

One year on, Jon Lee's health is deteriorating further and Mrs Stordy wants to conquer a new challenge and raise another £3200.

She is going to be walking part of the Great Wall of China for a charity trek in October.

She said: "Dad has had many chest infections since last year, it's a huge part of being bedridden as his body has just shut down. Our mum still cares for him fulltime and I believe it is because he is so loved that he is still with us and keeps fighting.

"We have said goodbye to him four or five times as he has become so ill but he is just not ready to leave us yet."

When Jon Lee's family shared his battle last year, the family received messages of support from across the community.

She said: "The awareness that our memory walk raised was extremely important. The £6,119 that we raised has helped out hugely towards funding vital research.

"Our dad was a huge part of many peoples lives and on the day of our Memory Walk last year it really showed just how much he meant to everyone."

The Great Wall of China walk will last 10 days and most days Mrs Stordy will be walking for eight hours.

She said: "This will be a very big challenge but for my dad and Alzheimer's Society I will be giving it my everything."

Kristy's mum Kim praised her daughter for her efforts.

She said: "Words can never express just how proud our family is of what Kristy is doing to raise money for such a worthy cause. Dementia has impacted our family in more ways that can be imagined.

"If anything Kristy raises helps towards finding a cure and prevents just one family from going through a sad journey like ours, then it will be worth every step."

There are more than 850,000 people with dementia in the UK and the figure is expected to rise to one million by 2025. The illness is terminal and tragically there is still no cure.

Mrs Stordy said: "Our dad always wanted us to achieve all we could do and this one is for you dad."

Kristy is holding a coffee morning and cake sale at Longs Fish & Chip restaurant in King Street from 9.30am to 11.30am on Saturday, April 1 with all proceeds going to Alzheimer's Society.