A student from Orpington has walked 130km to raise money for an Alzheimer’s research charity after watching her grandpa battle the disease.

Natascha Leach’s much-loved "grampy", Michael Ratcliff, was diagnosed with the incurable disease in 2020 – aged 77 at the time.

Natascha, 16, doesn’t live near her grandfather so isn’t able to see him very often, which means his deterioration has been even more noticeable to her.

She has walked from Orpington to Whitstable with her dad, Martin Leach, and joined by friends along the way all in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK.

News Shopper: Natascha on the first day of the long walk, with Martin Leach, Chris McCartney, Alex McCartney, and Evie PreciousNatascha on the first day of the long walk, with Martin Leach, Chris McCartney, Alex McCartney, and Evie Precious

Natascha said: “There’s nothing I can do for grampy realistically.

“I can’t make it better for him, so I thought if there’s something I can do for future generations and future families I want to do that.

“I know what it’s like to be a family member of someone with Alzheimer’s and I want to try and make a difference for people in the future so they hopefully don’t have to go through it because it’s really difficult.”

Natascha’s walk took four days, and she undertook it without any real training as she had been sitting her GCSEs at the time.

She has already managed to raise £2,875 for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Natascha added: “I got really emotional when we finished the walk – partly because I was exhausted but also because it’s a massive achievement to walk that far and raise that much money.

“It was really hard, but I really enjoyed it.

“I researched lots of charities and this one stood out to me the most so it’s been really good.”

Natascha has been taking donations via a Just Giving page, which you can donate to here.