Dementia research charity champions kick off year of fundraising in style
Volunteers in Shropshire have celebrated a successful first year of fundraising for dementia research by visiting a laboratory to see the kind of pioneering work they are helping to fund.
Members of the Alzheimer’s Research UK Shropshire Fundraising Group, who have raised more than £20,000, enjoyed a tour of a laboratory at Aston University as part of their first anniversary celebrations.
Their top fundraising events included an open garden event, which raised more than £3,500; an open day at Stokesay Court celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the release of award-winning wartime film, Atonement, which raised over £1,000; and September and Christmas events at Salop Leisure, near Shrewsbury, which raised nearly £2,000. They even had a Stars Wars stormtrooper join them at a collection at Sainsbury’s in Oswestry, which helped them raise more than £500.
The group members have also helped spread the word about dementia and the importance of research throughout the county, inspiring others to get involved. As a result of the group’s work, Alzheimer’s Research UK became the nominated charity for last year’s Posh Frocks Charity Dinner in Telford, which raised more than £2,000, and more than £4,000 in match funding was donated to the charity by Google via Benevity.
Group leader Katie Foster, whose father died with Alzheimer’s in 2007, said: “The first year of the Shropshire fundraising group has been totally astounding in so many ways.
“Our view is to always put the ‘fun’ into fundraising so that it is a real pleasure to raise money to help scientists across the country work on finding treatments for dementia.
“Our group is pretty small so we'd love more people to join us.”
Alzheimer’s Research UK regional groups play a crucial part in the fight against dementia, which currently affects more than 850,000 people across the UK. The charity powers world-class studies focusing on prevention, diagnosis and treatments for dementia and has funded 49 research projects in the Midlands, providing grants totalling more than £4.1m.
Lucy Squance, director of supporter led fundraising at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “The Shropshire fundraising group have had a fantastic first year and we’ve been blown away by their passion and commitment.
“We can’t thank them enough for raising thousands of pounds for world-class dementia research and being wonderful advocates for Alzheimer’s Research UK.”
For information about the group’s upcoming events and activities, like its Facebook page or follow it on Twitter – @arukshropshire
New members are always welcome to the group.
