Lacey Turner joins in for Alzheimer’s Society’s Cupcake Day 2019
Dust off your baking bowls and whip out your whisks, Alzheimer’s Society’s Cupcake Day is back on Thursday 13 June. Actress and Alzheimer’s Society supporter, Lacey Turner, is urging everyone to unite against dementia with their families, friends and colleagues, by baking or buying cupcakes to raise vital funds. Being close to friends and colleagues affected by dementia, Lacey Turner is now supporting the cause, having taken part in a Cupcake Day tasting event last year. Speaking about supporting Cupcake Day, Lacey said: “After tasting lots of treats last year, I’m so happy to be taking part in Alzheimer’s Society’s Cupcake Day again,” said Lacey. “Cupcake Day is not just for the pros, I didn’t do any baking last year- I can only make toast! You can bake, bring or buy, but what’s important is that we all unite together to help beat dementia. “Every three minutes someone in the UK develops dementia but each cupcake sold will help get us a step closer to finding a cure. That’s why I’m calling on all the bakers and fakers to join me; it’s time to get to work! You can sign up for a free fundraising kit at cupcakeday.org.uk.” Research will beat dementia, but we need more funding to find a cure. There hasn’t been a new drug for dementia in 15 years – but since 2013, the number of clinical trials for Alzheimer’s drugs has doubled, and Alzheimer’s Society is investing in, and accelerating, dementia research, having committed to spending at least £150m in the next decade. With 850,000 people in the UK having dementia, we owe better knowledge of the condition to everyone affected, so that they can live better. It is only through research that we can understand what causes dementia, develop effective treatments, improve care and one day find a cure. Sue Clarke, Alzheimer’s Society operations manager for Alzheimer’s Society in Greater Manchester, said: “We’re all delighted that Lacey is supporting us for Cupcake Day. It’s great to see how attending a Cupcake Day event last year has inspired Lacey to get more involved in the fun this year. “Dementia is now the UK’s biggest killer. Each cupcake will help us find a cure, improve care and offer help and understanding for people affected. Events such as Cupcake Day make it easy for everyone to get involved, and raise awareness of the important work we do to support people with dementia.” Now in its fourth year, Cupcake Day has raised £2.7 million since 2016. Last year more than 3,873 baking pros, impatient icers, first-timers and late night whiskers from the North West united together against dementia for Cupcake Day. This June, Alzheimer’s Society is encouraging everyone to bake, bring or buy, to raise more than ever before to help beat dementia. In just the average time it takes to bake a batch of cakes, six people will develop dementia in the UK. Whether you choose to host your own event for Cupcake Day on 13 June or mark the occasion another time in the month, there are no excuses not to get involved. Visit cupcakeday.org.uk to sign up today!
How you can help during Dementia Action week?
This Dementia Action Week, 20 – 26 May, Alzheimer’s Society is calling for people to focus on inclusion, and take action so people living with dementia can stay connected to the things they love for longer. Over a third of people living with dementia have recently felt lonely and over a third have lost touch with their friends following a diagnosis (Alzheimer’s Society’s Turning up the Volume report). Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, this means hundreds and thousands of people living with dementia are feeling cut off. Public anxiety and a sense of social awkwardness contribute to the isolation that people living with dementia experience – over half of the general public report that they don’t feel confident visiting someone with dementia in a care home or inviting them to a meal at their home. Living with dementia doesn’t need to mean an isolated life – after all, people with dementia are still people. This Dementia Action Week, Alzheimer’s Society is urging everyone to unite with them and take action – so people living with dementia can stay connected to the things they love for longer. It’s as simple as continuing to stay in touch, talk to and visit friends, family and neighbours with dementia. Or learning more about dementia and volunteering with Alzheimer’s Society to help someone in your local area. Our small acts of kindness can make a huge impact in helping people with dementia stay connected. Last year, over 900 events took place across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our film reached 1.8 million views, thousands of people pledged to take action for people affected by dementia online and we made over 21,000 Dementia Friends. People don’t realise that many people with dementia may find it difficult to recognise faces of friends and family members, but they still hold an ‘emotional memory’ which means they continue to feel happy long after a visit or experience that they may have forgotten. Spending time with loved ones is important because it can stimulate feelings of familiarity, happiness, comfort and security. Staying connected and taking part in activities helps a person with dementia feel less isolated. Look out for campaign materials for the week promoting the best ways to stay in touch, have a conversation and make a difference to people with dementia in your community. To find your nearest event during Dementia Action Week, and to get involved and take action, visit alzheimers.org.uk/DAW.
Care home staff pack shopping for children’s cancer charity
GENEROUS shoppers have donated hundreds of pounds to children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent after care home workers helped pack their bags. Staff from several Huddersfield care homes spent their day off helping at the checkouts at Morrisons, on Penistone Road. In just four hours packing customers’ shopping, they raised a total of £324.27 for CLIC Sargent, which provides financial and specialist support for young people and their families affected by cancer. The team from Aden Court, Aden House, Aden Lodge, Aden Mount and Aden View care homes, all operated by the Hill Care Group, are now aiming to repeat the fundraising activity. They plan on spending a full day at the supermarket to raise £1,000 for the charity. Liz Daykin, customer relations manager for the Hill Care Group, said: “CLIC Sargent provides a vital service to young people affected by cancer and we wanted to do our bit to support their work. “A massive thank you to Morrisons for hosting us and the generous customers who donated to such a worthy cause. “We are now planning on repeating the charity bag pack but with a much bigger goal of raising £1,000. Any and all support is greatly appreciated.” The Hill Care Group operates care homes across the north of England. For further information visit www.hillcare.net. CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading cancer charity for children, young people and their families. For further information visit www.clicsargent.org.uk.
Hospital tombola helps care home raise funds for charity
CARE home staff are continuing to raise hundreds of pounds for stroke survivors and their families – as part of a year-long fundraising campaign. A tombola at the University Hospital of North Tees was run by staff from The Beeches Care Home, on Green Lane, Stockton-on-Tees. Deputy manager Rachel Harris and activities coordinator Jess Roth manned the stand, selling tickets and giving away prizes including scented candles and toiletries. Alongside a coffee morning at the home, this has added another £97 to the £660 total the home has already raised for the Stroke Association throughout last year. Previous events included a supermarket bag pack, cake sale and sponsored walk. Rachel said: “We’d like to thank North Tees Hospital for allowing us to run our tombola for the Stroke Association. “We had a lot of interested and raised a good amount of money for the charity. Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket and congratulations to the lucky prize winners.” The Beeches Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
Thousands of ‘glow-getters’ put dementia to bed at Ready Steady GLOW in Manchester
Thousands of people took to the streets of Manchester at the weekend to unite against dementia. More than 3,400 attended Alzheimer’s Society’s special 5km night walk, known as Ready Steady GLOW, which started and finished at Media City. Participants, most of whom were walking in memory of – or to pay tribute to – a loved one affected by dementia, formed a sea of blue in their Memory Walk T-shirts as they made their way along the city’s waterfront. From there, they snaked their way across some of the city’s iconic bridges and past the famous Imperial War Museum and Lowry Theatre. Before the walk got underway the Piazza was a hive of activity as participants enjoyed a lively ‘zumba dance’ warm up session – and the high spirits continued as medals were handed out as people crossed the finishing line. Hazel Bayley, Alzheimer’s Society Area Manager for the North West, said: “Dementia is now the UK’s biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes. “I am so glad that thousands of people from across the region stepped out to improve the lives of people living with dementia. “Dementia devastates lives; it slowly strips people of their memories, relationships and identities. “Every pound raised through Ready Steady GLOW will help Alzheimer’s Society provide vital information and support, improve care, fund research and create lasting change for people affected by the condition. “Alzheimer’s Society is committed to spending at least £150 million over the next decade on dementia research to improve care for people today and find a cure for tomorrow. “I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped make this year’s first Ready Steady GLOW event such a brilliant success.” To find out more about Ready Steady GLOW and Alzheimer’s Society’s daytime Memory Walk events, go to memorywalk.org.uk
Zipping across the Tyne for charity and residents
DAREDEVIL care home staff flew across the Tyne on a zipwire to raise funds for residents and charity. Over £1,000 was raised by staff from The Oaks Care Home, in Blyth, Northumberland, after they launched themselves off the Tyne Bridge. The home’s carers and support staff jumped from the bridge’s balustrades before zipping across the river on a cold autumn day. The team included care assistants Samantha Porter and Linda Palmer, senior carer Sarah Geggie, care assistant Jessica Maxwell, maintenance man Chris Sogorski, senior carer Paige Gallagher, activities coordinator Natalie Brimelow, and care assistant Sarah Ferrow. The money raised has been split between the home’s residents’ fund and the Stroke Association – the home’s chosen charity for 2018. They added another £150 to their £542 total for the charity so far this year – taking it to £692. The remaining funds from the zipwire challenge will help pay for activities and events for the residents over the festive period. Sheila Keegan, wife of resident Brian Keegan, supported the team on the day with sweets and coffee. Sheila, who donated £10 for each team member, said: “It was just fantastic to support the team. I wanted to reward each of them for their courage and dedication.” Sam Porter, care assistant at The Oaks Care Home, came up with the idea and encouraged other staff members to take part. She said: “I wanted to do something wacky and different. Ziplining across the Tyne ticked all the boxes.” Home manager Ann Mielnik treated staff to a restorative tipple at a nearby hotel after their cold ziplining experience. She said: “Many staff members wanted to take part, so we had to do it as a first come, first served basis, as we still needed staff on duty. “I’m so proud of everyone that took part, as it took real guts to jump off the edge of the bridge.”
