Against the ODDS

Given a devastating fe diagnosis, one woman a refused to let that stop her living her life to the full

- SARAH WHITELEY

Completing the trek to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal, 4,130m above sea level, is an impressive feat for anyone, but no one more so than Jane Buckels. Because not only was she 60 when she ticked off the bucket-list achievement, she had also been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's three years previously.

Since then, 66-year-old Jane, from Grosmont in Monmouthshire, has also completed a half marathon and learnt how to paddleboard, and has been on another mountain trek. 'I want people to know that dementia doesn't always mean you have to stop living your life,' Jane says. 'If you catch it early and go on medication to slow down the progression, there are still so many adventures you can have.'

Growing up in Lancashire, Jane has always loved walking, going for hikes across the Pennines with her youth group as a teenager. Then, when she moved to Abergavenny job as a building officer in the NHS, she continued walking in the Black Mountains in for her the Brecon Beacons.

Jane got married in 1982. She and her husband went on walking holidays to Snowdonia and the Lake District. But in 1989, shortly before her daughter Emma was born, their marriage broke down.

'My husband and I used to talk about going to the Himalayas and Everest Base Camp, but as a single parent, I put those dreams on hold,' Jane says. Instead, she concentrated on bringing up Emma and her work.

In time, her dad Reg was diagnosed with Alzheimer's when he was in his late 60s. Sadly, it was too late for medication to help and he passed away. Realising how short life was, Jane booked onto an organised trip to Everest Base Camp in 2011.

'I did lots of training. The views were incredible and I loved achieving something I'd talked about for so long,' Jane smiles.