16/06/2026
Brilliant read of one of our personal trainers and my good friend!
You’re doing a great thing Caitlin. ❤️
"My name is Caitlin and I'm wanting to talk about why I'm raising money for something close to my heart
My grandad has Lewy Body Disease which is a form of Alzheimers, he was diagnosed in August 2024 and is currently in a care home in Glenrothes. When Grandad was diagnosed, we never knew what it was. We knew what Alzheimers and Dementia was but this was different we were told, it's a horrible combination of both.
Grandad has been my best friend for as long as I can remember and I felt like I had to do something to raise money and awareness. He was a businessman in the business of washing lorries. He then worked for the famous DC Thompson before moving on to Menzies Distribution. He used to go around all the shops and drop off newspapers, becoming a well known face to many. His name is Bruce, he used to love golf. Whenever he wasn't working he was playing golf and would also help out at the Open in St. Andrews as well as other places. It was everything to him.
He was made redundant around 7 years ago, when that happened things went downhill. We began to notice changes in him, we now believe it was due to the lack of routine and normality. He would sit at mums and you could see he wanted to speak, to talk to us but it felt as if his own mind didn't want him to, does that make sense? He became paranoid, he thought people were talking about him but they were old friends. He worked at The Crusoe as a bartender and was captain at the golf course, he was well known.
I had a wee moment to myself recently when I was out running near the golf course where he played. A man flagged me down and handed me money for my fundraiser. He told me what an amazing man grandad is and that he would be proud of me for what I'm doing, which left me quite upset. It was special to hear that, people have approached the family and spoken so highly of grandad, which has been nice.
So I'm running in the Scottish Half Marathon in Edinburgh in August for him and to raise funds for Alzheimers Scotland. I've always been active, I started as a swimmer and could have gone far, I was always competitive too but when you're 16 years old, the last thing you want to do is exercise. I did go off to Abertay University to study Sports and Exercise, but family stuff brought me home early, I have 3 younger siblings who needed me at that time so I dropped out and finished the course closer to home.
During the pandemic, I would exercise at home, it was my way of staying sane. I made a fitness page and began fundraising for Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh where I would exercise for 300 days of the year and raised a good amount. This was another charity close to my heart because my brother friend had Leukaemia and I would help take care of him, especially on school trips to Dalguise and Ardroy. I'd be on hand to support him, administer medication and know when he was burning out.
I started of at Arena in Kirkcaldy, that's how I met Jack who you spoke to. I sailed through my certifications too to become an instructor. I've also worked in hospitality for 14 years and it's come at a great cost to family life, making memories, more so now since grandads diagnosis. Last year I took the leap and began working as a fitness instructor and since early this year, it's really taken off. I just wanted to help people hit attainable goals and offer support, I mostly coach women and my niche is helping them find time for themselves, building their confidence and some of them are mums so gym time is their time.
Grandad always knew what to say when I wasn't feeling my best, I miss that more than anything. He always had the right words. I'd talk about things going on in my life and I don't get anything from that, not how I used to and I know that sounds selfish. Even though the disease has take over so much of who my grandad was, I always find that when I hold his hand or give him a cuddle, he'll hold on tight. It's as if there's a part of him still inside, who remembers himself and us, who remembers that we love him and that he loves us. I think it's important to remember that there's still a part of someone you love and who loved you inside someone with one of these horrible illnesses and it can come and go so fast.
I know when he's having a bad day, and I've found peace in just holding his hand cause I feel his "grandad grip" and I know he's still there because he knows I'm here and that means everything to me"
I've put Caitlins Just Giving in the comments, please donate if you can and give her story a wee share if it's one you can relate to. If so, I'm sending you my love. Thank you ❤️
I asked Caitlin for a photo of her and her grandad, Bruce. I've put it in the comments.
