This year's Miss Teen Norfolk is urging people to take part in Norwich Memory Walk on Saturday, to help raise cash and awareness for the Alzheimer's Society.
Sixteen-year-old former Sheringham High School student Niamh Craske works part time at Sheringham Medical Practice, where her mum Pauline is practice manager.
'I've helped at the practice since I was 14 and I've met many dementia patients who require extra care and patience when you interact with them,' she said.
'I'll never forget when an elderly patient needed to weigh herself on the scales as part of a health check, but she was terrified because the scales were black and she thought it was a black hole she would fall through – it was very sad to witness.'
Niamh, who is studying for A Levels in physics, chemistry and biology at Notre Dame High School and eventually hopes to become a doctor, will be competing for the Miss Teen Great Britain title in Blackpool next month.
She will be travelling to Norwich on Saturday to join more than 2,000 people who have already registered to complete a 1.5km or 5.5km route around Norfolk Showground.
Among those taking part are Linda Scott, of Cromer, who will be joined by her husband Ted, 67, and daughter Deborah, 38.
Mrs Scott, 64, said she wanted to take part in the event in memory of her 'much treasured' mother, who was diagnosed with dementia a year before she died, aged 87.
'I'm taking part with my family to increase awareness of the condition, raise funds for support services and to fund research into a cure; people living with dementia in Norfolk deserve our support,' she said.
Debbie Foster, who is the Alzheimer's Society's operations manager for Norfolk and Suffolk, said: 'Dementia is now the UK's biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes.
'Dementia devastates lives, but every pound raised through Memory Walk will help us provide vital information and support, improve care, fund research and create lasting memories for people affected by the condition.'
To sign up for Norwich Memory Walk, which kicks off at the Norfolk Showground at 11am on Saturday, visit www.memorywalk.org.uk
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