Gracie's powerful poem on grandad's Alzheimer's struggle

A student from Barrowford has written a powerful poem about her grandad's struggle with Alzheimer's - and her mum is running two marathons in as many weeks to raise money for the Society.
Gracie Nuttall poem (s)Gracie Nuttall poem (s)
Gracie Nuttall poem (s)

Gracie Nuttall (14) attends Skipton Girls’ High School and wrote her poem during grandad Neal Nuttall’s (81) battle with Alzheimer’s and Myeloma, before he died on Tuesday in Blackburn Hospital.

Neal is a former Head of Upper School at Fearns in Bacup and lived in Yewlands Drive, Burnley.

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Trawden Athletic Club member Nicola Nuttall, who was in Boston during the marathon bombing in 2013, ran the Manchester Marathon on Sunday in a time of three hours 21 minutes, her personal best.

Nicola Nuttall (s)Nicola Nuttall (s)
Nicola Nuttall (s)

Now she has just over a week to prepare for the London Marathon on Sunday, April 24th, and has already smashed her £150 fundraising target by raising almost £700 .

Nicola, who is a Director at Giddy Kippers Party and Play Centre on Lomeshaye Business Village, said: “Over the last 12 months Alzheimer’s has touched our family and Gracie decided to write a poem about how she felt.

“I am a runner and decided to tackle two marathons in two weeks to raise money for a cause close to our heart.”

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Neal leaves wife Beryl, three sons and seven granddaughters.

Neal and Beryl Nuttall (s)Neal and Beryl Nuttall (s)
Neal and Beryl Nuttall (s)

To help Nicola boost her total for the Alzheimer’s Society more go to www.just
giving.com/Nicola-Nut

Gracie’s poem:

It’s like you’re here but really you’re not

You’re the same outer shell, but inside you’re so different.

Nicola Nuttall (s)Nicola Nuttall (s)
Nicola Nuttall (s)

I can see you but can’t quite reach you

So close but so distant.

Your sense of humour everlasting

Your kindness and your wit

Neal and Beryl Nuttall (s)Neal and Beryl Nuttall (s)
Neal and Beryl Nuttall (s)

We can’t quite find the real you

And you’re different every day.

What I wouldn’t give to have one day with you

Where you’re back to your old self.

I’d tell you everything, leave nothing out

That’s my one biggest regret.

That I didn’t quite appreciate you

When you were all here

That I didn’t tell you

My hopes and my dreams.

Or listen when you told me you loved me

Or that I was clever

Or smart

Or funny.

How stupid was I not to know

That you would be my biggest hero

And not to lock up every memory with you

Because soon they would start to go.

If only you knew how much you’re missed

Despite that you’re still here.

But I have to remember that you’re still you

Just a little bit further away.