Famous faces appeal for 10,000 volunteers to raise funds for dementia

We would like to raise £350,000 in just two days at Tesco stores across the UK. To make this happen we need 10,000 volunteers to help collect money on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 May.

Other famous faces, who all appear in a video backing the campaign, include Ruth Langsford, Shaun Williamson, Bernie Nolan, John Altman, Gordon Banks, Richard McCourt and Paul Ross. They want people to get involved with the charity's biggest ever fundraising event - The BIG collection.

If you'd like to put your smiling skills to good use, why not donate your time at a store near you? You can even invite friends and family to join in too. As well as a chance to have fun you will be helping to build a better future for people with dementia.

Together, Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland are Tesco Charity of the Year 2011. The money raised through the collection and the partnership will help support people with dementia and help make sure people don't face this devastating disease alone.

Alzheimer's Society supporter Robbie Savage, said:

'This year 100,000 more people will develop dementia. Having played in the biggest league in the world, I've faced a lot of challenges on the pitch, but watching my father and my hero diagnosed with dementia has been the biggest challenge of my life. I know how devastating it can be on the person with the condition as well as their loved ones - and how important it is to know that support is out there when you need it.'

Alzheimer's Society's Chief Executive, Jeremy Hughes, said:

'Every little helps and donating just three hours of your spare time during the bank holiday weekend will make a huge difference to people living with dementia. It's an enormous challenge to raise £350,000 in just two days - but we know we can do it with your help. I'll be encouraging Tesco customers to give generously at my local Tesco store during the BIG collection and I hope you will be too.'

For every day of the partnership Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland want to help 300 people live better with dementia. The partnership will fund new research, dementia support professionals to help those living with the condition, and a Dementia Community Roadshow that will travel to Tesco stores around the UK raising awareness of dementia and encouraging people worried about their memory to visit their GPs.

If you can spare a few hours to collect on either Friday 27 or Saturday 28 May, please get in touch today by calling 0845 678 7678. Or why not sign up to be a team leader and coordinate a collection at your local store? To register visit alzheimers-tesco.org.uk