Challenge Annie

The Henfield Haven will celebrate their 10th birthday in 2025. That’s 10 years since the tired and underutilised Henfield Daycare Centre was taken over by the local community and, after a huge renovation project supported by local businesses and organisations, reopened as the happy, light and airy high-needs dementia support centre it is now.

The story of this incredible transformation is for another day, and we’ll be launching the 2025 celebrations ‘proper’ in our January edition of BN5 and other local press. For now, we wanted to tell you of the extraordinary ‘thank you’ gift the Haven is about to receive from Henfield residents Anne and Rohan Dewdney.

The Dewdneys will be well known to many of you; Rohan a local accountant and businessman, skilled footballer, Henfield born and bred and a friend to many. He and his wife Anne raised their family here, Anne always a big part of the village, she was a founding HART responder, and you may know her from Marcus Grimes Estate Agents in the High Street. Rohan’s shock diagnosis of FTD (Frontotemporal Dementia) ten years ago, at the age of just 56, changed both their lives immeasurably.

Their 10-year journey with dementia has been inextricably linked to that of the Henfield Haven. Rohan was supported from the start, as was Anne, and as Rohan’s dementia has progressed the Haven team have been there for him every step of the way. Rohan greatly enjoys his high- needs sessions, which allow Anne to work with the confidence to know he’s safe and happy. Most importantly, it has helped her to maintain some balance in their relationship, some time for herself, and to be a wife as well as carer.

To give back to the Haven, Anne has come up with a rather fabulous plan. Alongside a team of supporters and with expert training and guidance from personal trainer Katie Novis, she will be embarking on 10 unique challenges, one a month, in the run-up to the Henfield Haven’s grand birthday celebrations in November.

Challenge Annie will see her pushing the limits each month, with some challenges of the arduous variety, some will push the limits of her courage, and some will be rooted in the local community, involving the clubs and groups who are our greatest supporters. Each event will raise awareness of dementia, because it can affect every one of us and the ones we love. It will also help to future-proof the Haven raising much- needed funds in its 10th year.

There will be something for everyone – and, in the Haven spirit of teamwork, we know we can’t do it without you.

Emma Cole

HOW YOU CAN HELP...

If you can help by sponsoring an event, packages start at £500 (depending on business size), please contact Digby Stephenson on challengeannie@henfieldhaven.org

Our thanks to the generous businesses who have already pledged their support.

If you’d like to join in one of the challenges then please watch this space and follow our social media channels – more will be revealed very soon!