A CHARITY night, in aid of an Alzheimer’s charity and a care home, has been organised by the son of a man who died of the condition last month.

Gavin Roper, 34, started to organise the event in January, but his dad Bruce’s condition deteriorated and he died on Easter Monday, aged 74.

Gavin, from Burnley, has raised well over £10,000 for various charities in the past and wanted to raise funds because of the support the Alzheimer’s Society had given his mum, and the way Nelson Manor Care Home, managed by Janine Kelly, treated his dad.

He said: “I never realised the full impact Alzheimer’s can have.

"At first we tried to have a laugh with dad about it. He would forget some things and we would make a joke of it.

"But last July he deteriorated really quickly and at the end he couldn’t talk, couldn’t walk and couldn’t swallow. It was awful.”

Bruce started getting worse while in Cyprus last year seeing Gavin get married.

Gavin said: “As soon as he got back he went into hospital and never really came out.

"He moved into Nelson Manor around September and they were brilliant with him.

"The care and support they gave him was fantastic and they were really supportive.

"They rang the family on the day he died which gave us time to be there when he passed away.”

Gavin, who was very close to his dad, said: “We used to run karate clubs together and we passed our black belts at the same time.

"He was really active and to me he was so strong, so it was horrible to see him how he was at the end. It was heart-breaking.”

East Lancashire band Shakey’s Brother will perform at the charity night at The Inn on the Wharf, in Manchester Road, Burnley, on Friday, July 8, from 7.30pm.

Tickets are £3, available from The Inn on the Wharf, Nelson Manor Care Home, or from Gavin on 07720 710325.