Retired Buxton police sergeant battles dementia and Parkinson's

A fundraising walk is to take place next month to support a retired Buxton police sergeant who is battling dementia.
Beth Kirk and her dad Andrew Torkington.Beth Kirk and her dad Andrew Torkington.
Beth Kirk and her dad Andrew Torkington.

Andrew Torkington, who is also a former firefighter, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in his late 40s and then Lewy Bodies Dementia four years ago.

The 58-year-old served the community for 25 years in his police role and was also well known for his involvement with the Fairfield Centre and for helping to bring a skate ramp to Buxton.

Now his daughter, Beth Kirk, has signed up to do the Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walk to raise funds to help fight the disease.

The 37-year-old said: “I needed to do something but I didn’t want to a walk in my dad’s memory I wanted to help him while he is still alive.”

Sadly Andrew, who was a foster parent for more than a decade with his wife Jennifer and is also a grandfather, will not be joining his daughter on the two-hour walk from the Pavilion Gardens to Solomon’s Temple and back due to his condition.

Beth said: “The impact his diagnosis has had on the whole family has been massive.

“The bad days are outweighing the good days now and we all feel sad because we are watching a person we love lose him self.

“I hate the impact that it has had on my mum’s life too, as she feels the burden of responsibility, both to keep him as well as possible, but also to make decisions about his future.

“This walk is bringing us together as a family and giving us something to focus on.”

The memory walk is taking place on Sunday, October 7.

To make a donation or for more information about the walk, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/beth-kirk.