A family challenge: interim branch secretary taking on 25km ultra climb

6 May 2026

Interim branch secretary Stu Bott will be taking on a demanding 25km climb in the Lake District - side-by-side with his father and sister, to raise money in honour of his grandpa.

The trio will be taking on the challenge this summer in memory of Fred, their beloved grandpa, while raising funds for Dementia UK.

“Grandpa Fred was one in a million. We were incredibly close to our grandparents and spent a lot of time with them throughout our childhood,” recalled Stu.

“He was the one who taught me to play golf, and he took us to sports club. He was a huge part of our lives.”

Grandpa Fred.

Fred lived a remarkable life. He served in the Second World War, joining the Army at just 18 and fighting in North Africa and Italy. During the brutal Battle of Monte Cassino, he was wounded - shot in the arm - but returned to duty after recovering.

His service didn’t end when the fighting stopped. Fred volunteered to remain in Italy, helping to recover fallen soldiers and rebury them with dignity in Commonwealth cemeteries. It was work that required resilience, respect, and compassion.

Only recently, around 18 months ago, the family uncovered another extraordinary chapter of his life - one he never spoke about. In September 1945, Fred was sent on a secret mission to Albania, travelling to Tirana alongside a senior officer. There, he helped locate missing servicemen and establish what would become a Commonwealth war cemetery. It was a story he carried quietly to his grave.

Dementia

Fred lived to the age of 94. But the final decade of his life was overshadowed by dementia.

“Having dementia completely stripped us of the man we knew so well,” said Stu.

“He completely forgot the person he was, he couldn’t remember us - the only person he remembered was Nan.”

Once an independent and active figure, Fred progressively worsened. And for his family, the experience left a lasting impact.

Stu continued: “To see someone so strong and full of stories slowly lose those memories was devastating.”

Lake District Ultra Quarter

Now, Fred’s son and Stu’s dad, John, 69, along with Stu, 48 and Carly, 46, will be coming together to take on the Lake District Ultra Quarter, a 25km challenge across demanding terrain.

Despite living miles apart, Stu says the event is a chance to reconnect as a family and pay tribute to Fred.

“It’s something we’ve talked about before, but now we’ve decided to do it,” said Stu. “We don’t see each other as much as we’d like, so this is a way to come together and do something meaningful - not just for us, but for our Grandpa.”

The challenge won’t be easy, and while they all keep active - gym sessions, regular walking - hill terrain on this scale is new to them.

“It has to be a challenge,” Stu said, adding: “But that’s the point, it’s meant to challenge us so people have a reason to give.”

Challenge

The trio are taking on this challenge on 6 June, not only in memory of Fred, but also to support others affected by dementia.

Stu said: “Dementia can impact anyone. We can’t bring our grandad back, but we can help others who are going through the same thing and contribute to future support and research.”

Stu said that every donation will go towards supporting those living with dementia and funding vital research into the condition.

He has pledged to raise £275 for Dementia UK, and is now calling on members to help him reach his target.

Donate to Stu by visiting his JustGiving page.