Ex-naval officer, 93, takes on zipwire challenge to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research
The former naval officer’s wife has been living with the disease for 12 years
This World Alzheimer’s Month, Charles Wylie from the Meon Valley took on the longest zip-wire on the south coast at the weekend to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity.
The 93-year-old former naval officer was inspired by his wife Jean, who has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for the last 12 years.
Charles took on the challenge of the 30-metre high and 300 meters long zip-wire on Brighton seafront at 2pm on Saturday 5 September, with his granddaughter there to support him.
Charles has already raised more than £35,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK, the charity working to revolutionise the way dementia is treated, diagnosed and prevented.
Charles’ determination and adventurous spirit led him to parachute out of a plane with the Red Devils for his 90th birthday. For his 91st he rowed around Portsmouth harbour on the naval transatlantic rowing boat, Oardacious.
For his 92nd birthday he abseiled down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth and for his 93rd birthday, Charles took on the longest zipwire on the south coast.
“Jean is the love of my life. But there’s nothing to be done at present for her dementia. So, in her honour, I do it all for our four children, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren as well as half the human race,” said Charles.
Charles and Jean, 90, have been married for 68 years and met when Charles gate-crashed a dance in Edinburgh in 1956. “Jean looked like Grace Kelly in the crowd and straight away I knew she was the one I would marry. Her smile made my legs go weak,” said Charles.
“Not only is she the most beautiful person, she brought up our four children while working as a speech therapist, while I was often away at sea.
“We now have nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. I want the future to be different for them and that’s why I’m raising money for dementia research. “
“Dementia affects almost one million people in the UK alone and has a huge impact on families like mine. Yet today, somewhere, someone alive today could be the first one cured of Alzheimer’s.
“I want to raise as much money towards research as I can so that my grandchildren do not have to go through the heartbreak and devastation that Jean and I have lived through. Thanks to research, we understand much more about dementia than we used to.
“People living with dementia today are also helping to shape the future of research. They help researchers understand dementia better and help to develop new treatments.
“That's why research matters for people living with dementia today as well as future generations.
Speaking of his zipwire experience Charles said: “I didn’t feel scared at all. I put my faith in the technology and enjoyed the feeling of flying like an eagle. There’s a great sense of freedom to fly over the beach and look out to sea.
“It has been heartbreaking watching Jean coping with Alzheimer’s and at least I can do something positive to raise awareness of this hideous disease.
“I think having a positive outlook has helped me get through difficult times. I’m raising money for research so that future generations won’t have to go through it too.”
Georgi Welch, regional fundraising officer for Portsmouth area at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We’re so grateful to Charles for supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK. If nothing changes, one in two of us will be directly affected by dementia – either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both.
“Fantastic fundraising efforts like this are helping us get closer to a cure for people with dementia and their loved ones. We wish Charles the best of luck.”