THOUSANDS joined together to raise money and awareness against dementia and Alzheimer's in the inaugural Southampton Memory Walk.

More than 1,700 people walked around Southampton Common to highlight the disease's impact as well as fund to support vital research and services.

The race was opened by Saints legend Matt Le Tissier who later tweeted how good the turn out for the race was.

People were raising money for the Alzheimer's Society, which is the UK's leading dementia support and research charity, there for anyone affected by any form of dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Nick O’Donohue, Alzheimer’s Society operations manager for Hampshire, said: “Dementia is set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer.

“We are calling on family, friends – and furry four-legged supporters – to unite against dementia this autumn. Dementia devastates lives.

“Walk with us at memory walk and dementia won’t win.

“Every pound raised will help.”

Residents who took part in the event spoke of why they decided to get involved.

Carole Phillips, of Bitterne Park, Southampton, said: “My mother (Grace Morrison, who lived in Regents Park, Southampton) had Alzheimer’s for nine years and sadly she passed away in June.

“I took part in Memory Walk because I just wanted to honour my mum in some way and do something positive for future generations so hopefully they won’t have to go through what my mother has gone through and what we’ve gone through as a family.”

Her partner Chris added: “We kept Grace at home for as long as we could and we did our very best for her until she went into a home which was hard for us but the best thing for her.

“Unfortunately, there isn’t enough money provided by the Government to look after people living with dementia and there probably never will be so the more people get involved in events like Memory Walk the better it is for our communities as a whole.”

Steve Blight, of Fawley, said: “My father, Denis who is 90 next month, has currently got vascular dementia and so the fight against dementia is very close to our hearts.

"It’s a good cause and the more money we can raise for research and services the better.

"It’s been a really special event and I’m sure it will grow which is important because dementia is becoming more and more prevalent.

"It’s something that the whole family can do as well so it’s good on lots of different levels."

Lucy Rowe, 11-month-old twins Aubree and Aimee Rowe and sister Anja Redshaw, said: “Our late granddad had vascular dementia.

"Memory Walk means a lot to us because the atmosphere is great and it feels as though people are uniting against dementia.

"It’s such a massive thing and everyone is affected by it in one way or another."