Bupa and the UK's leading dementia charities to partner for third year running

The partnership is for the Bupa Great Run Series in 2011. 

Over 10,000 people have run for the two charities in the Bupa Great Runs Series since the beginning of the partnership in 2009, and the charities are on target to raise over £1 million for the second year in a row. By the end of 2011, the charities hoped to have raised in excess of £3.5 million.

The partnership is vitally important to Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland. The money raised so far via the Bupa Great Run Series will help to provide information and support services for people with dementia, and their carers, and fund research to find a cure.

Over 750,000 people in Britain live with dementia and this figure is expected to double over the next thirty years.  A third of people who live in Bupa's 305 care homes around the UK require specialist dementia care.

Dr Graham Stokes, director of dementia care at Bupa Care Services said:

'We're very pleased to be supporting Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland for a third year. As the UK's leading provider of dementia care, we're committed to helping people with the disease to live well. We understand how important it is to work with Alzheimer's Society to support people with dementia today and find a cure for tomorrow. Signing up to support the Alzheimer's charities in a Bupa Great Run means you can get fit, help reduce your risk of dementia and raise money for a very worthwhile cause.'

 Jo Swinhoe, director of fundraising and marketing at Alzheimer's Society said:

'We are incredibly proud of everyone who has taken up the challenge of a Bupa Great Run to raise funds for us and extremely grateful for their efforts.  We rely on voluntary income to support people with dementia and their carers and undertake our vital research, so we are thrilled to have this opportunity for a third year and are committed to raising even more in 2011.'

Henry Simmons, chief executive at Alzheimer Scotland said:

'We believe that no-one should have to go through dementia on their own and we are extremely pleased to be working with the Bupa Great Run Series again in 2011. The money raised in the past two years through this amazing fundraising partnership has made a big difference to people with dementia and their families across Scotland, so this third year of opportunity is greatly welcomed by everyone in our organisation.'

Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland are calling for runners to support them in one of the 2011 Bupa Great Runs across the country.  For further details visit alzheimers.org.uk/greatrun  or telephone 0870 417 0192. Runners in Scotland can visit www.alzscot.org  or telephone 0845 260 0789.

Bupa has sponsored the Great Run Series for 18 years, and last year helped raise over £28 million for charity in total.