Where the Heart Is actress Samantha Giles calls for Bupa Great Manchester Run runners to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society

Samantha's grandmother, Dink Fairman, was diagnosed with dementia around three years ago and is now looked after in a care home.  Samantha, who returns to our screens this summer as Valerie Holden in Hollyoaks, said,

'It is heart-breaking to see you someone you love with this terrible disease.  Resources are needed to help people live well with dementia today and to fund research to find a cure tomorrow.  Raising just £20 could support a researcher for a day with the equipment and chemicals needed to develop better treatments for dementia.'

Samantha, best known as the glamorous Bernice in Emmerdale, is taking part in the Bupa Great Manchester Run for Alzheimer's Society for the second time.  She added,

'I was delighted to hear that Bupa had chosen Alzheimer's Society as their nominated charity again this year and to be running again.  The Bupa Great Manchester Run is huge fun, gets you fit and will raise money towards improving the lives of people with dementia and their carers.'

Dr Graham Stokes, Bupa's director of dementia care explains why Alzheimer's Society was a natural choice to be the nominated charity,

'Alzheimer's Society and Bupa are working together across a range of projects to support people with dementia and their carers and to find a cure for the future, whilst improving their quality of life and care. Both organisations share a commitment to fighting dementia and a belief in the health benefits of exercise. Signing up to support Alzheimer's Society in a Bupa Great Run means you can get fit, helping reduce your risk of dementia whilst raising money for a very worthwhile cause.'

 -Ends-

Notes to editors

For enquiries, a photograph or to arrange an interview or photo op please contact:

Alzheimer's Society                                                                         
Jayne Phenton                                               
T. 020 7423 3595/ 0774 704 6750                                                                             
E. press@alzheimers.org.uk 

Alzheimer's Society

• One in three people over 65 will die with dementia.
• Alzheimer's Society research shows that 750,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051.
• Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them. 
• Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Alzheimer's Society needs to raise money to help people live well with dementia today and for research to find a cure for tomorrow. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk 
  
• Alzheimer's Society provides a National Dementia Helpline, the number is 0845 300 0336 or visit alzheimers.org.uk
  

Bupa

Bupa is a leading international healthcare company. Established in 1947, it has over ten million customers in more than 190 countries and employs over 52,000 people around the world. Its main interests are health insurance, care homes for young disabled and older people, workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching and healthcare services in the home.

While Bupa's largest and original business is in the UK, it has significant operations around the world including Sanitas in Spain, MBF, HBA, Mutual Community in Australia, IHI in Denmark and Health Dialog in the US. Bupa also has businesses in Hong Kong, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, India, China and Latin America. In addition, Bupa Care Services owns care homes in Spain, Australia and New Zealand.

Bupa has no shareholders. Bupa reinvests its money to provide better healthcare for its customers, helping them to live longer, happier, healthier lives.

• Bupa is the largest owner/operator of care homes for older people in the UK.
• It is one of the largest organisations in the UK to be awarded the Investor in People quality standard, most recently in 2006.
• The company delivers highly-individualised care through its award-winning Personal Best initiative.
• It operates 301 nursing and residential homes with over 21,000 registered beds in the UK - more than 25 percent of which are registered for specialist dementia care.
• Approximately 70 percent of those who live in Bupa care homes receive state funding.