Daughter takes on dad's 10km legacy after dementia

Clare Sharkey (left) and Keith Walker cross the finish line of the 2022 Abbey Dash

For more than 35 years Keith Walker was an ever-present on the start line of Age UK's Abbey Dash 10k in Leeds.

But, after taking a step back due to his dementia diagnosis, it will be his daughter, Clare Sharkey, lacing up her shoes later in order to keep the family "legacy" going.

“He’s always run, he’s always biked, he always did the Great Yorkshire Bike Ride with his friends. He did the Ilkley triathlon," she said.

“He’s not just done the Abbey Dash, he’s done every 10k going.

“He loved running, but I hate running.”

Mr Walker, 86, had taken part in every Abbey Dash between 1986 and 2022 – only stopping when it was cancelled due to Covid.

Ms Sharkey said the event had become a family tradition.

“The Abbey Dash is something that’s really known in our family. Every year Dad would say 'right come on, let’s have your sponsorship money',” she said.

She said her asthma had made it difficult to get into running but she had run the race twice before, including once alongside her dad.

“The first time I did it was hard. It’s not my natural thing at all. I think we were something like fourth to last in. But we didn’t care.

“Dad was being shouted on the radio as he came into the finish line. We cried all the way around."

The Abbey Dash has become a family tradition

Ms Sharkey, 54, is taking part to raise money for Ilkley and District Good Neighbours dementia cafe, where her father has gone once a fortnight since he was diagnosed.

“Every other Tuesday my mum and him go to the Clarke Foley Centre in the middle of Ilkley and there’s either music or a group doing something," she said.

“They get a free lunch, provided by one of the local bakeries, which is amazing.

"And there’s a load of different people who go and really rely on it. So I wanted to do that for them this year.”

Kirkstall Abbey is the 5km mark and half-way point of the race

Ms Sharkey will be part of a team of seven family members taking part, with Mr Walker waiting for them at the finish line.

“We’ve called our team Joggers not Walkers because we wanted his name in the group," she said.

“So, it’s his legacy now."

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