Sir Cliff backs Northern Echo campaign

Sir Cliff, whose mother suffers from Alzheimer's disease, was responding to news that more than a thousand readers have signed up to the newspaper's 'Don't Stop Dementia Drugs campaign'.

Sir Cliff said:

'As someone whose mother has suffered from this appalling illness for several years now, I know how cruel it can be and how vital it is that sufferers receive the medication they need. All power to you.'

Over a thousand Northern Echo readers have now returned printed forms calling on Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to intervene on the side of thousands of dementia patients and the Northern Echo's website has received 118 emails expressing support for the campaign from as far afield as Frinton-on-Sea, in Essex, and Lanarkshire in Scotland.

The Alzheimer's Society is planning protests and marches across England and Wales on Friday, November 17, and our chief executive Neil Hunt has welcomed the The Northern Echo's campaign and the support the public has shown.