FAMILY and friends of a well-known York man who is living with early onset dementia are holding a weekend event in his honour.

Paul Moynihan, 58, from Clifton, was diagnosed with early onset dementia at just 54, and is currently being cared for in a York hospital assessment unit.

In support of the research and work being carried out by the Alzheimer's Society, his family and friends are organising a fun weekend at the Clifton Hotel, Water End, on September 5 and 6.

Each day starts at 2pm and runs till close, including face painting, a bouncy castle, tombola, raffle, barbeque, dance shows and hot dogs. On Sunday evening there will also be live music.

Helen Moynihan, Paul's wife, and his friends and family have thrown themselves into fundraising for the Alzheimer's Society and into raising awareness that dementia does not just affect elderly people.

Helen said: "We want to support Alzheimer's Society because although it will be too late for Paul, I hope that in the future there will be something for our kids and grandkids.

"It's a heartbreaking disease which is described as the long goodbye.

"I feel I need to do something positive to help."

Paul's vascular dementia is believed to have been triggered after he sustained a head injury in an attack in York in 2008.

He was walking down an alleyway in Bell Farm with a friend when three youngsters on bikes bumped into them. After an annoyed Paul said something to them, they returned with baseball bats and attacked him.

The first signs appeared a year later, when Paul began to forget the most basic things - walking into a room and forgetting why he was there and even the most basic building skills at work.

The condition progressed quickly and left Paul, who had been a confident and outgoing person, feeling anxious and confused, Helen said.

She said: "Everyone in this community has looked out for Paul. People are constantly asking about Paul and asking more about Alzheimer's."

As well as the event in Clifton, a team of people, including Paul's son's Leon and Ross, took part in the Tough Mudder event near Skipton, raising £2,700 for the cause.

Helen is also due to take on a week-long challenge to trek the Grand Canyon next year in aid of the charity.