There are 700,000 people with dementia in the UK, and the number is set to rise to one million by 2025. Globally, the problem is huge: there are over 35 million people around the world now living with dementia.
As populations age, the issue of dementia will only increase, and in the UK, Alzheimer's Society is leading the fight against dementia. It provides practical support, funds research and runs a helpline. Through the internet it has a global reach and hosts an online forum, Talking Point.
Alzheimer's is a cruel disease. “Towards the end, Dad just stared into space, he didn't know me,” says Claire, whose father suffered from Alzheimer's. “I would watch his eyes desperately for a flicker of any form of recognition… it will haunt me forever.”
Fundraising for charity is always a fulfilling experience and for employees who have seen the effects of Alzheimer's in their own families, it can be especially rewarding to know they are doing something to help.
One Johnson Matthey employee whose father was also affected decided to take part in the Great North Run, one of the UK's high profile running events. “I had never done any running before so it was pretty tough going,” says Joanne Cross from our Billingham site in the UK. “I had to train for a whole year. I began my training by running between two lampposts and found it exhausting at the start. I worked incredibly hard though, increasing my distance by a mile each month to ensure I could cover the 13 mile course. I trained three times a week which took some doing during the winter months in the north east of England!I finished the run in 3 hours 14 minutes – but more importantly I raised over £2,000 for Alzheimer's Society.”
Around the world, Johnson Matthey staff have played their part for our Charity of the Year. At Royston, UK, a business breakfast was hosted for the local chamber of commerce; at Devon, USA, two lotteries were run to win tickets to sporting and musical events; a ‘memory walk' took place in Morecambe, UK; and Johnson Matthey's head office in London organised a Fantasy World Cup competition. A host of employee driven activities have helped raise significant funds.
Johnson Matthey's partnership with Alzheimer's Society runs from August 2009 to the end of July 2010 – raising money that helps fund vital services to help those affected by this terrible disease.