Rugby League Legend Walks 300Km to Raise $170,000 for Dementia Research

"You meet other people with dementia … you think these people are not too bad, this person is a bit worse and this person is terrible. "As you go on, you think you're going to go down that track, so it keeps you on edge. The former Penrith Panthers skipper has been on a journey to help others afflicted with dementia and raise money to find a cure.

For the past 12 days, Mr Simmons has walked more than 300 kilometres from Gilgandra to Cowra in the New South Wales Central West. Royce Simmons was diagnosed with Alzheimer's five years ago at the age of 61. ( ABC News: Hamish Cole ) Royce's Big Walk has raised more than $170,000 so far this year, and continues accepting donations until the end of September. Over the past five years, the walk has raised more than $2.2 million for dementia research and support services.

[People] think dementia is an old person's problem … I've had it now for five years and I'm 67, Mr Simmons said. "There are a lot of people now living in their 30s, 40s and 50s who are starting to get dementia. "It is beautiful for him to be able to come back to his hometown, she said.

"I'm glad he had the idea [to do the walk], I think it is helping him cope with this rotten disease. "I'm so proud that he can still do these things. Mr Simmons represented the Penrith Panthers in 238 games, winning the premiership with them in 1991, and played 10 times for New South Wales and Australia.

Over the course of the walk, he was joined by a host of former rugby league players including his former teammate Brad Fittler, James Maloney and Darren Britt. Former rugby league player Darren Britt joined Royce Simmons for part of his walk raising money for Dementia Australia. ( ABC News: Hamish Cole ) Mr Britt described Mr Simmons as "a remarkable bloke". "Anyone in any need, he was always out there to help them," he said.