A BURNHAM gym raised more than £1,400 for Dementia charities with a “boogie bounceathon”.

Trackside Fitness, in Station Approach, hosted the sponsored event which raised money for Support an Essex Admiral Nurse (SEAN), a Burnham based charity looking to bring specialist Dementia nurses to the region.

The event saw 14 people, the majority of whom were in their 60s, performing choreographed dance moves on mini trampolines for two hours.

The latest statistics show there are now 850,000 with Dementia in the UK, and that will rise to more than one million by 2025.

Dr Mark Roberts, a GP at Tiptree Medical Centre, is the mental health lead for the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). He said: “Many people find that as they get older, memory loss becomes more of a problem. But dementia is not just about forgetting things, it can also affect the way you think, behave and speak.

"If you, or someone you know, are experiencing problems that are affecting daily life and these problems have been going on for at least six months, it's a good idea to talk to a GP.

"Research shows that having positive social interactions can reduce the chance of dementia and depression, and help lonely people, some of whom may well be caring for someone with dementia, avoid relying on medication and long-term care.”

Dr Roberts also highlighted the importance of an early diagnosis.

He added: “It is possible to live well with dementia and there is strong evidence that an early diagnosis helps someone with dementia to continue to live independently in their own home for longer. However if people are not diagnosed, they will not receive the support they need.

"It is therefore really important that people get an early diagnosis which opens up access to the right health and social care services.”

Research shows that just one hours exercise a week can reduce the chance of Dementia by almost half.

Trackside Fitness manager, Nicky Dunkley said: “People think gyms are just full of young, muscular, fitness fanatics, but these days the demographics have changed.

“Our members range from fourteen all the way to 82-years-old. It’s never too late to start exercising.”

Donations to the “boogie bounceathon” can still be made by visiting: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/trackside1.