Residents take action to support national Alzheimer’s fundraising challenge

St Monica Trust residents raised more than £3,000 this month, stepping out in a sponsored walk to support the Alzheimer’s Society’s biggest annual fundraising initiative for people living with dementia.

More than 90 Residents from Cote Lane, Westbury Fields and Monica Wills House, Bedminster, some using wheelchairs, enrolled on the ‘Memory Walk’ organised by the Trust and which toured through the Trust’s Cote Lane gardens. It was one of many similar events which the Alzheimer’s Society hopes will get more than 10,000 people moving all over the country throughout September, raising money to care, research and campaign for people with dementia.

87- year- old Joan Mossman, a resident at St Monica Trust’s Oatley House in Cote Lane is one of those who took part in the walk. Her husband, Peter Mossman, was an active supporter of Bristol Alzheimer’s research group BRACE. He was diagnosed as having dementia and died just three years ago.

Explains Joan, “Dementia touches the lives of so many people. By supporting the Alzheimer’s Society, I’m walking not just for those who live with dementia but also for their carers.”

Joan’s husband, Peter was one of the first people to be cared for in The Orchards, a specialist facility set up by the St Monica Trust in Bristol just three years ago specifically for elderly people living with memory loss, a condition which affects one in five people over the age of 80 in the UK. As well as supporting the Alzheimer’s Society’s appeal for funds, St Monica Trust is itself investing in improving dementia care for people in the West, with two specialist residential facilities in Bristol and plans to invest millions of pounds in a new purpose-built care home for people with dementia south of Bristol in North Somerset.
Rejáne le Grange, a leading specialist in the provision of care for people living with dementia has been recruited by St Monica Trust to develop the Trust’s dementia service. She says, “Our Memory Walk is a small step to highlight what is a significant journey for everyone looking to enhance care for elderly people in the UK. At St Monica Trust, we are evolving a vision that will see people at many different stages of dementia continuing to lead productive and caring lives. I’m thrilled that so many residents are taking action today to support further research and development in this key area.”

Memory Walk is the leading fundraiser for people with dementia and their carers and in 2006 raised more than £176,000 with the help of more than 7,000 walkers. More than 10,000 people are expected to join in Memory Walk events across the country throughout September. For more information on the Alzheimer’s Society visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/memorywalk.

Dementia facts
700,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, the majority over the age of 65. The total number of people with dementia in the UK is forecast to increase to 940,110 by 2021 and 1,735,000 by 2051 an increase of 38% over the next 15 years and 154% over the next 45 years.

Source:- Alzheimer’s Society report 2007.