Hi everyone,

This year I'll be running my first ever half marathon (the Manchester Half Marathon on 9th October) and I'll be doing so to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society. In April 2022's monthly death statistics, the ONS reported dementia and Alzheimer's disease as England's biggest killer.

Many of you will have heard of dementia, symptoms include (i) memory loss; (ii) confusion and needing help with daily tasks; (iii) problems with language and understanding; and (iv) changes in behaviour. Whilst there are many types of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (a specific disease that affects the brain) is the most common.

Alzheimer's is personal to me. In 2018, my grandmother passed away from it. I have great memories of her, she was jolly, self-relient, extremely talkative and loved her family. However, in her last few years much of this changed with a relatively rapid Alzheimer's induced decline.

I'm sure this story isn't unique to me. Some of you may have similar first-hand experiences with friends or relatives suffering with Alzheimer's / dementia. In 2019, an estimated 900,000 people had dementia in the UK (of which over 42,000 were under 65) and is projected to rise to 1.6m by 2040. Without a cure, this will lead to great emotional and financial costs for (i) sufferers of dementia; (ii) their family / friends; and (iii) the NHS.

This is where amazing bodies such as the Alzheimer's Society comes in. The Alzheimer’s Society is a vital source of support and a powerful force for change for everyone affected by dementia. It funds research aimed to improve diagnosis, develop new treatments and improve care and support for people living with dementia.

I appreciate that the incoming (or existing) cost of living crisis that will (is) affecting many of us. However, any donation will be incredibly appreciated to help those suffering with dementia as well as their family and friends. If you can't donate, please share this with family, friends and colleagues.

Thanks,

Luke