Stars Join People With Alzheimer's Disease In The Fight Against Dementia, UK

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 12 Mar 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Presenter Ruth Langsford, writer Rosie Boycott and BBC Radio One DJ Richard McCourt are adding their names to Alzheimer's Society's Vice-Presidents, Patrons and Ambassadors.

They join people from the worlds of business, politics, science and the arts, championing the rights of people with dementia and their carers.

Heather Roberts and Bill Wilson are among new Ambassadors who will represent the views of people living with dementia. Former carer Barbara Pointon, whose husband Malcolm's diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease through to his final days were filmed in the documentary Malcolm & Barbara: A Love's Farewell, is also becoming an Ambassador. The new members are announced less than a year after the network was launched at the House of Lords.

Ruth Langsford, Alzheimer's Society ambassador, says,

'My father Dennis has Alzheimer's, so I know what a cruel disease it is and how it affects everyone in a family. Dementia will affect more than a million people in less than 20 years. Alzheimer's Society is already doing so much work to support people with dementia and their carers today and by supporting them we can help make difference to the lives of millions of people in the future.'

Alzheimer's Society Vice Presidents, Patrons and Ambassadors will help support more than 1,600 staff and thousands of volunteers helping to improve the lives of people living with the condition and their carers.

Supporters already include actresses Britt Ekland, a Patron, and Lynda Bellingham and former Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay, both Ambassadors.

Neil Hunt, chief executive of Alzheimer's Society, says,

'It is fantastic to see even more people declaring their commitment in the fight against dementia. As a charity Alzheimer's Society relies on the generosity of the public to help us raise money to care, research and campaign for people with dementia and their carers. Our Vice Presidents, Patrons and Ambassadors programme can help us do this. They can also raise awareness about the real impact of dementia which is so much more than memory loss - it robs people of their lives.'

Notes

- Interviews with Alzheimer's Society ambassadors and are available. Please contact the press office on 020 7423 3594.

- Please click here for a full list of Alzheimer's Society's Vice Presidents, Patrons and Ambassadors programme or contact the press office for more details.

- 1 in 3 older people will end their lives with a form of dementia

- 700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051. 1 in 6 people over 80 have dementia.

- Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and those who care for them. Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

- As a charity, Alzheimer's Society depends on the generosity of the public to help it care, research and campaign for people with dementia. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting http://www.alzheimers.org.uk.



Alzheimer's Society