I'm remembering my Nonna Nina by Jogging for Gioia
On Saturday, 6 June, I'm taking part in Redcliffe's Memory Walk & Jog to raise funds to support Australians impacted by dementia. This is a cause close to my heart and I would love your support.
Around 2016, my Nonna was diagnosed with dementia. What ensued was a slow and sad 10 year battle, that truly broke my family's heart.
My hope is that this awful disease never touches yours, or our lives again ... but Dementia Australia needs your support to help make this a possibility.
Terrifyingly, by 2058 it's expected that over 800,000 Australians will have dementia. All money raised through the MW&J will support Dementia Australia to provide vital support services like counselling, support groups, education, and research to help find a cure.
While I can't bring Nonna back, together we can help change the trajectory for all the other Nonnas out there. Your support would mean the world to me.
Thank you! 💕
My achievements
Help me light up my badges
Received first
sponsor donation
Shared Page on Social
Uploaded profile pic
Referred a friend
Raised $150
Bronze Dementia
Warrior
Raised $500
Silver Dementia
Warrior
Raised $1,000
Gold Dementia
Warrior
Raised $2,500
Platinum Dementia
Warrior
Uploaded profile pic
I'm on my way to becoming a Platinum Level Fundraiser. Can you support me with a small donation?
My Updates
Your guide to Nonna’s eggs and tomato 🍳🥫
Sadly, one of the cruel things dementia took from us was all of these beautiful familial recipes - that were never written down, just known like the back of a hand. Here's my best attempt at recreating it. Buon appetito 🤌🇮🇹👵
1. Heat a spoonful of olive oil over a medium heat and fry a garlic clove until aromatic.
$10.23 is a lot to a seven-year-old ...
In 1998, when I was seven years old, I remember being woken up by Mum and Dad in the middle of the night, because Nonna and Nonno had been burgled and we had to go to their house. It was one of those formative experiences of my childhood - a true loss of innocence and realisation that the world was not always a safe place. I remember the family being in a state of shock and sadness, not only at the loss of beautiful jewellery that was both sentimentally and financially valuable, but at the sense of violation we had experienced.
So what does a confused, wanting to help seven-year-old do? She donates her pocket money - $10.23 - to her grandparents, accompanied by a hand designed card (I was always destined for comms!) featuring a gun wielding policewoman with the message "Dear Nonno & Nonna I'm sorry what has happened to you. I hope you will like this because you give me whatever I want. Love Bridgette. xoxo".
It's hard to describe how surprised I felt 14 years later, when my exact coin collection of pocket money and the card were gifted back to me on my 21st Birthday. But maybe, I shouldn't have been so surprised, because that is the kind of person Nonna was - thoughtful to a fault, a little bit 'you never know when this might come in handy' (just ask my mum and aunts after having to clean out the house!) and deeply generous.
Nonna continues to touch our hearts
Today we celebrated my sweet little baby cousin (well, cousin once removed / we're Italian ... everyone is a cousin) getting baptised. And, she wore the gown made for her mum (my first cousin) in 1989 by Nonna! The beautiful lace christening gown was no doubt made with love and a bursting sense of pride in her Catholic faith. What a precious family heirloom to carry through generations of our family 💕
It reminds me of the first communion gown Nonna made for me - featuring a mini exact replica for a look-a-like porcelain doll. In fact, she did this for all six of her granddaughters. A personalised, heart-filled gift to last a lifetime.
She was not only incredibly talented as a seamstress, but so generous and thoughtful as a person.
While Nonna can't be with us physically anymore, it is moments like today and my beautiful porcelain dolly that keep her alive in our hearts - like she's right there with us.
About our team 'Jogging for Gioia'
Gio...what????
Simply put, Gioia means 'joy' in Italian. It's pronounced something like joy-ah ... don't mind my butchered Italian!
While translated, it may seem like a simple three letter word, it means so much more to me and my family - it had a number of uses. It might have been an 'oh gioia', a worried gioia, a surprised gioia, a happy to see you gioia, a comforting gioia, an ENOUGH gioia or a can you help me gioia. Essentially, it was my Nonna's way of expressing love.
Nonna was our gioia - she truly brought joy to all she knew (and even those she didn't, because she loved making conversation).
Sadly due to the beast that is dementia, her final years lacked joy. Her death was sad and slow, and nothing that any human or their loved ones should have to go through.
This year, my family are taking part in Dementia Australia's Memory Walk and Jog to ensure less people and their loved ones are impacted by dementia in the way Nonna was.
Thank you for your support of this worthy and much needed cause. We must find a cure, and until that happens, we must keep funding critical services like counselling, support groups and education to support all impacted by this cruel condition.
Thank you to my sponsors
$255.60
Jess Crane
$159.75
Rose Williams
"You are amazing! Thanks for doing this. Nonna would be so proud!"
$150
Damien Williams
"Your Nonna would be proud of you. Your Mother and I are always proud of you. Thank you for doing this selfless thing to support others who can't support themselves."
$117.15
Charlie And Maria Rinella
$117.15
Charles Occhino
"She’s was a beautiful human"
$100
Steven Mosch
$84.14
Elise Williams
"Nonna’s egg and tomato !"
$58.58
A&a
"Go you good thing go!"
$58.58
Frank And Maria
$58.58
Emily Bernoth
"🩷🩷"
$58.58
Erin
$58.58
Anita Macknish
"What a beautiful thing to do to honour your Nonna’s memory!"
$58.58
Nellina Licciardello
"Well done"
$55
Bonnie And Graham Coupland
"Sending love"
$55
Britt + Fam
"Go Bwills. Such an important cause to raise money for and a beautiful way to honour Nonna ❤️"
$55
Maddie
$53.25
Jessica Rinella
$53.25
Anna X
"Well done Bridge and Ucchino Fam xox 🫶"
$53.25
Anonymous
$53.25
Lorelle
"Great work in raising money and awareness for such an important cause. Your Nonna would be so proud 💕"
$53.25
Kahlia Jackson
"In memory of your Nonna xx"
$50
The Robino-farrells
$42.60
Gillian Howe
"Lots of love to you and your family ❤️"
$30
Nay
"Proud of you, and an amazing cause x"
$26.63
Deb Pouchkareff
"All our love and support Bridget"
$21.30
Amanda G
$21.30
T Pamon
$21.30
Michelle Brown
"Well done Bridgette ! Such a great cause. 🩷"
$21.30
Tessa Marshall
"Go Bridg!! Such an important cause"
$21.30
Britney
"💜"
$21.30
Brenda & Roxi
"Go Bridgette 💖"
$21.30
Chloe
"Great cause and great cookies! Thanks Bridgette"
$21.30
Belinda Millhouse
$21.30
Catheirne
"Amazing work and cause lovely xxx"
$20
Nikita King
"For Nonna x"
$20
Monica Mcmillan
"Your Nonna would be proud of you!"
$18.11
Jennifer Martinez
$10.65
Anonymous
"Good luck x."
$10.65
Bec Morey
$10
Carmel Parker
"Luv U Bridgette"
$6.39
Rita Rush
"Nonnas are the best. So beautiful you are keeping her memory alive. And now I know where you get your cooking genes from"
$5.33
Kate Finlayson
$5.33
Anonymous
$5.33
Kate Exley
"This is a lovely initiative for your lovely Nonna Nina. I am looking forward to the cookie- thank you"
$5.33
Lucy Herley
"Well done Bridgette! 🩷"
$5.33
Rachel Sawtell
$5.33
Sharnia Spark
$5.33
Rita Rush
"The biscuits was too good. I came back tuesday and grabbed another. Bellisimo Bella!!"
$5
Anonymous
$3.73
Anonymous
$3.20
Anonymous
$3.20
Anonymous
"amazing!"
