Alzheimer’s Research Christmas advert star tells of heartbreak at losing her dad to the disease at just 51
WHEN she was just 13 years old, Ciana Ayre was forced to face up to a horrible reality.
Before her eyes, her dad Mike began to slip away.
At the age of just 46 years old, the dad-of-two was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
By the age of 51, the cruel disease, often thought to only affect the elderly, had claimed his life.
Ciana, her younger sister Chrissi and their mum Liz, 51, were left bereft, heartbroken but determined.
The brave trio promised themselves, and Mike, one thing - to continue to fight to raise awareness of the disease that had cut his life short.
In the animation, Freya learns Santa has Alzheimer's and has forgotten to tour the world on Christmas Eve spreading festive cheer and delivering presents.
Christmas is always a difficult time of year for our family, this will be our third Christmas without my dad
Ciana Ayre
She travels to the North Pole, where she rallies Santa's redundant elves - inspiring them back into action.
But, instead of making toys, they transform their workshop into a laboratory and set out to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease.
Titled Santa Forgot, the animation carries a powerful message - that anyone, at any time, no matter their age can be struck by dementia, even Santa.
For the Ayre family, their involvement in making and promoting the message is a part of their drive to carry on Mike's work.
Ciana told The Sun Online: "Christmas is always a difficult time of year for our family, this will be our third Christmas without my dad.
"But, being able to help raise awareness and being the voice of Freya in this advert feels like I'm keeping a part of my dad alive, and fulfilling his hopes of raising the understanding of Alzheimer's."
Mum-of-two Liz, told The Sun Online her husband would be "bursting with pride" for their daughters.
"I am tremendously proud of them both," she said.
"Ciana voiced Freya in the advert, it was very special to us and a huge tribute to Mike.
"And Chrissi is involved with Alzheimer's Research UK and has written an amazing blog, she wrote it when she was 16.
"It's absolutely amazing, she wants people to know exactly what it's like."
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The reality is, Alzheimer's is an earth-shattering illness not just for the person diagnosed but for their family and friends.
Liz told The Sun Online: "It was devastating, the girls were so young.
"They lost a lot of their childhood, we made the best of everything and while he was still able to do things we made sure we made memories.
"We went on big, special holidays. We have fantastic memories.
"But, it was devastating, they had to see their dad deteriorate, they lost him bit by bit.
"No child should have to go through that."
When you say the words dementia and Alzheimer's the typical association is with memory loss.
But, as Liz explained, the disease is "much more than that".
"Mike lost his enthusiasm for everything, he just seemed to lose his zest for everything," she recalled.
"That was the most noticeable thing for me."
Memory loss and forgetfulness did play their catastrophic parts, as did Mike's loss of spatial awareness.
Yet, in spite of their unbearable ordeal, Liz counts them among the lucky ones.
It was devastating, the girls were so young. They lost a lot of their childhood... they had to see their dad deteriorate, they lost him bit by bit
Liz Ayre
Mike, who worked as an actuary for several multi-national insurance firms, was diagnosed relatively quickly, in spite of his age.
Being so young, it could have taken a lot longer for his symptoms to be attributed to dementia - so often considered an "old person's disease".
"We had a very good friend who was a local doctor," said Liz.
"He knew Mike, he knew what he was like and he could see the signs and listened to me.
"Unlike a lot of other people diagnosed, for us it was quite quick. I know that isn't the norm."
Through Mike's treatment and involvement with research at University College London, the family were put in touch with Alzheimer's Research UK.
Initially with their dad and husband by their side, and now in his memory, Ciana, Chrissi and Liz, are determined to do all they can to raise awareness of the disease, to raise vital funds to drive forward research.
"This can happen to anybody, to people of any age at any time," said Liz.
"It is a disease, that's the other thing people don't realise.
"It is a disease, not just a part of growing old.
"It is not inevitable, we can find a cure. But to do so we need more research into the disease.
"And raising people's awareness is part of that."
This can happen to anybody, to people of any age at any time. It is a disease, not just a part of growing old. It is not inevitable, we can find a cure
Liz Ayre
Her daughter Chrissi, now 19 and studying real estate planning, added: "It is not something that just ‘happens’ when we grow old, so we must try and get as much funding as possible to research into finding a cure.
“It really can affect anyone at any age.”
Mum Liz said in spite of everything her family has been through they strongly believe a cure will be found.
"There is a lack of understanding , dementia in general has been in the shadows for far, far too long.
"The Santa Forgot advert is gradually bringing it out of the shadows, bringing it to the forefront and now we need to raise more awareness.
"It is about giving hope, this isn't just something that happens in old age.
"It is not just something we have to accept.
"It's a disease and we can find a cure, hopefully people will see that, they will see there is hope and they will be compelled to help."
Ciana added: "I hope people will be able to gain more understanding through watching this advert and realise that although Alzheimer's is such a cruel and horrible disease, there is hope out there, and together we can defeat it."