This Just Giving page was created by Robin Houghton of Eggbox Marketing. Thanks for taking the time to visit.

"First Friday Lewes is free - but for once I'm asking for something in return. If you have benefited in any way from the event, or even if you haven't but wish to show your support for it, I hope you will be kind enough to make a donation, however small, on this page. Many thanks."

Why raise money for the Alzheimer's Society?

My mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2009, and until then I had really never thought about it meant to have dementia. It's been a steep learning curve. Having negotiated the labyrinth of legal, medical and social advice, procedures, help (and lack of help), it has struck me more and more that dementia is one of those diseases that gets sidelined, or just accepted as 'part of getting old'. Yes, we're all living longer, and that's one of the reasons that there are more and more people with dementia. But it doesn't have to be inevitable.

Dementia affects one in 14 people over the age of 65 and one in six over the age of 80. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. It's not restricted to elderly people: in the UK, there are 15,000 people under the age of 65 with dementia, although this figure is likely to be an underestimate. 

The term 'dementia' is used to describe the symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by specific diseases and conditions. People in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease may experience lapses of memory and have problems finding the right words. As the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer's will need more support from those who care for them. Eventually, they will need help with all their daily activities. There is currently no cure for the disease.

The Alzheimer's Society is committed to defeating dementia through research, currently investing over £6 million. But dementia research is seriously under-funded. The government invests eight times less in dementia research than cancer research. If nothing is done now, one million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years. Even by delaying the onset of dementia by five years, we could halve the number of deaths from this devastating condition. We must invest in research to defeat dementia.

The Alzheimer's Society believes that no one should face dementia alone. Through its helpline services it offers reassurance and a sympathetic listening ear, as well as up-to-date information and advice on all aspects of living with dementia.

Why it's safe to donate here

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.