Charlie Quirke trekked 140km to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research UK
Charlie Quirke, son of Birds of a Feather actress Pauline Quirke MBE, has successfully completed his five-day, 140km fundraising trek for Alzheimer’s Research UK, raising over £200,000 for dementia research.
The journey, which took place from 8–12 December, spanned five counties and challenged Charlie with potentially punishing winter weather.
It was inspired by a deeply personal connection: earlier this year, the Quirke family shared that Pauline is living with dementia and has stepped back from her acting career.
Heartbroken by the lack of a cure, the family pledged their support to Alzheimer’s Research UK and became Ambassadors for the charity.
Charlie described the trek as both a physical and emotional journey:
“I’m really excited to support Alzheimer’s Research UK in this way, because it’s what my mum wants me to do. She’s such a selfless person, and I know she’ll be delighted that I’m doing this to help others,” he said.
Retracing Memories Across England
Starting in Chigwell, Essex - the setting of Pauline’s iconic show Birds of a Feather - Charlie travelled on foot to locations that hold special meaning for his mother and the family. His route took him through London and beyond, stopping at old family homes, studios, and even the training ground of West Ham, the family’s beloved football team.
Along the way, Charlie was joined by friends, family, and a few well-known faces whose lives have been touched by Pauline.
The trek concluded at the family home in Buckinghamshire on 12 December, an emotional moment as Charlie reflected on the journey.
“I’ll carry all mum’s memories with me as I reach home for Christmas,” he said.
“I’ve never walked that far before, but what will keep me going is knowing that I’ll be reaching places that mean so much to Mum. There’s so much about her life that I don’t know, so I’m excited to learn more about her as I go,”
Supporting a Personal Cause
Pauline Quirke is best known for her role as Sharon Theodopolopodous in Birds of a Feather, and has also appeared in Broadchurch, Carrie’s War, North and South, Casualty, Cold Blood, My Family, and Emmerdale.
Charlie, also an actor, has described the impact of his mother’s dementia diagnosis as a motivation for his fundraising efforts.
“It’s not right, and it’s not fair. And it’s why, as a family, we wanted to do our bit. Research is the only thing that will give families a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
Alzheimer’s Research UK chief executive Hilary Evans-Newton praised Charlie’s achievement:
“We’re honoured that Pauline Quirke and her family have become Ambassadors of Alzheimer’s Research UK, and delighted that her son, Charlie, has decided to take on this challenge for our cause. By going on this gruelling trek, he will be helping to bring hope of a cure home to every family affected by dementia.”
Dementia affects one in two people directly, either by developing the condition themselves, caring for someone with it, or both. Alzheimer’s Research UK relies on donations to fund life-changing research.
How to Support
To donate, you can text CHARLIE20, CHARLIE10, or CHARLIE5 to 70255 to give £20, £10, or £5, respectively. Donors must be 16 or over and have the bill payer’s permission. Each text costs the donation amount plus standard network charges. Alzheimer’s Research UK is a registered charity (1077089 and SC042474).
For full terms and more information, visit JustGiving Terms