In November 2023, Race Against Dementia was selected as one of four charities for the Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal.
The Telegraph’s annual Christmas Charity Appeal started in its current format in 1986 and has raised close to £30 million for charities since its launch.
The appeal published over 20 articles highlighting key topics and voices in the race against dementia. The appeal raised a phenomenal £140,000 which will help fund and support the brightest research minds to find preventative treatments and cures for dementia – faster.
It has been a privilege to work with the Race Against Dementia team
Alexis Giles, chief publishing editor at The Telegraph, says: ‘It has been a privilege to work with the Race Against Dementia team, covering everything from celebrity interviews with Florence Pugh and Sir Jackie Stewart, the founder of Race Against Dementia, to powerful first-person accounts from the families of those who are living with the disease. It is clear that the incredible work the charity do – funding breakthrough dementia research – is helping to change the lives of so many.’
Highlights from the appeal:
Richard Lawson shared the challenges of looking after a loved one with dementia.
Image credit: Richard Lawson
“For 50 years, we had an exciting marriage, it was magical from the first moment we got together at the school dance,” he says. “It was a marriage of incredible fun and happiness. As she became ill she drifted away. You lose the person you loved. She, or he, doesn’t exist anymore.” “When you see someone who is a beautiful flower wilting in front of you, it’s hard to accept. Our family did what they could, but they had young children and I didn’t want them to care for her – I felt that was my role in life and I was very protective over that,” Richard says. “I was dead set on the priority of making Sue as comfortable and well cared for as I could.”
Image Credit: Douglas Robertson
When interviewed about her groundbreaking research, Dr Claire Durant said: “Five years makes a huge difference because it allows us to take more risks. If you have a three-year deadline, you need to do a safe project because it’s going to be productive and help you move on to your next job. But safe projects don’t cure Alzheimer’s. You need someone to say: ‘Right, we’re going to try something that would normally be considered very high risk and very difficult but we’re going to spend five years having a go.’ And that’s what Sir Jackie has done.”
Image credit: John Lawrence
Nurse Julie Holder discussed the diagnosis process and importance of tailored support after diagnosis.
Holder said she has certainly seen an increase in awareness and a rise in the number of referrals.
People most at risk are the ones who don’t take care of their brains
“Obviously age is the biggest risk factor and you can’t stop that, but people most at risk are the ones who don’t take care of their brains – they smoke, drink a lot, eat to excess,” she says. Holder stresses the importance of healthy brains as well as healthy bodies.
In the article Six myths about dementia – the misunderstood condition
James Rowe, professor of cognitive neurology at the University of Cambridge said, “We are still waiting for a definitive treatment or a cure but today in 2023, there’s so much that can be done,”
There’s real grounds for optimism
“Four out of 10 cases that can be prevented by best practice,” says Rowe. “Things like tackling obesity, heart disease, hearing loss, diabetes, pollution, smoking, alcohol and diet, encouraging people to exercise and so on. It’s not easy but it’s also not rocket science. If we apply what we know today, 40 per cent of dementia cases would be prevented in the long run.”
He said that we should view dementia as a potentially curable age-related disease just like stroke, cancer, heart attacks and blindness.
Registered Nurse Gayle Henry shared tools for ‘how to speak to someone with dementia.’
Gayle said, “Music can be a really great tool in getting someone to open up,” says Henry. Sometimes, someone who’s almost entirely non-verbal might suddenly sing along to a song they knew in the past.”
Image credit: Hulton Archive
In Sir Jackie Stewart’s article, the Race Against Dementia founder said that the race against dementia, is one in which speed is of the essence. “More people in this country now die with dementia than from any other condition. We have no cure for dementia. Unless we find a way to stop it, one in three people born today will die with it. And the thing is, it destroys families like no other illness.”
Veronica Bamford-Deane, CEO of Race Against Dementia, says: ‘As a small charity, the Appeal has given us a platform to not only raise significant and valuable funds but also reach a new audience – sharing the work of Race Against Dementia and the drastic need for more dementia research, care, awareness and support. It has been a privilege to work on the Appeal with the Telegraph team, who wrote each article sensitively and empathetically whilst expertly demonstrating the harsh realities of this dreadful disease. It has been humbling reading the number of comments which have followed each article, from people sharing their individual experiences of dementia. I’d like to thank all those who contributed their time to sharing their stories – and to everyone who donated- your support has been invaluable.’
