Stars and sporting greats unite against dementia to support Alzheimer’s Society
Golfers affected by dementia joined the famous faces at the BMW PGA Championship to celebrate World Alzheimer’s Day.
Boyzone’s Keith Duffy and Ronan Keating.
“We are delighted to be uniting with England Golf and the PGA Championship and raising awareness of what’s possible when the right support and adjustments are put in place, so people with dementia can remain active. Until we find a cure, it’s vital that we do everything we can to make sure everyone with dementia can continue to lead full and meaningful lives. We’re proud to announce that we have now reached three million Dementia Friends, and the PGA Championship joins them and hundreds of communities and other organisations in making this a reality.” – Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive Officer at Alzheimer’s Society
Last week (September 18th) a host of golfing greats and celebrities descended on Wentworth Golf Club at the star-studded Pro-Am day of the BMW PGA Championship, to help support and raise funds for the tournament’s charity partner, leading dementia charity Alzheimer’s Society.
The worlds of cricket and football merged on the course, with cricketers including Ben Stokes in action alongside sporting legends like Ian Wright, Jimmy Bullard, Nemanja Vidić and Harry and Jamie Redknapp. Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador Robbie Savage, whose late father had dementia, also brought out his golf clubs and joined Jack Butland and his former Manchester United colleagues Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
Ben Stokes (centre).
Keen golfers such as Niall Horan, Love Island star Chris Hughes, Radio DJ Chris Evans, Ronan Keating and actor James Nesbitt joined world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Ian Poulter to back the charity and celebrate World Alzheimer’s Day (21 September). Earlier this year, Chris Evans ran the Virgin Money London Marathon for Dementia Revolution, a partnership between Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK. He is continuing to support the campaign to help fund vital dementia research by training and raising money for the Amsterdam Marathon (20 October).
Dementia is now the UK’s biggest killer with someone developing it every three minutes – yet dementia research still trails far behind other health conditions, after decades of underfunding. Funds raised will go towards finding a cure as well as delivering vital support, such as through Alzheimer’s Society’s National Dementia Helpline. They were joined at the tee and on the green by a group keen golfers from Cambridgeshire affected by dementia, demonstrating how dementia shouldn’t be a barrier to inclusion, if the stigma surrounding it is eradicated, and more golf clubs and wider society adopt dementia friendly attitudes and practices.
Clare Balding.
There are 850,000 people living with dementia currently in the UK. There should be no barriers for people with dementia to maintaining active lives, particularly as physical activity improves the wellbeing of people with dementia and can improve memory and slow down mental decline. But sadly, around a quarter (22%) of people with dementia have had to give up exercise after being diagnosed. Alzheimer’s Society launched a Sport and Physical Activity Guide earlier this year and through working closely with organisations like England Golf and Sport England, the charity is taking steps to ensure the sport and leisure industry is dementia-friendly and supporting clubs and organisations to put in place the right support and adjustments.
Terry Stewart, was diagnosed with dementia in 2014 and faced the prospect of giving up his favourite pastime. But his golfing partners David Cope, Mark Shaw and Stewart Hastings adapted the game, making sure he tees off last with a yellow ball to make it easier for him to spot the ball, having a familiar routine to get ready and ‘buddying up’ so they can score for him and guide him to his ball.
“We have played golf together for over 25 years – without golf, there would be a huge gap in my life. Thanks to my friends and invaluable information from Alzheimer’s Society, I’m still able to get out there and enjoy the game and have a laugh with friends. I’m living proof that people with dementia don’t have to give up the things they love.” – Terry Stewart
