Contemporary swing singer Rick Guard is running up the charts AND in the Bupa Great Manchester Run for Alzheimer’s Society

'I'm thrilled to be running for Alzheimer's Society again in honour of my mum who died with dementia.  Alzheimer's Society were a great source of support and practical help.  The Bupa Great Manchester Run has a terrific atmosphere, is brilliant fun and it's a great opportunity to raise some money to help support the work that Alzheimer's Society do.'

Rick's latest single, Missing Person, is due out on 17 May and is dedicated to his mum, Doreen.  The song - currently receiving airplay on BBC Radio 2 and also to be performed on GMTV this week - is a moving tribute to his mum and her struggle with Alzheimer's disease.  A contribution from the sale of every album, Anyone But Me will be donated to Alzheimer's Society.  

Rick added,

 'There's still time to sign up for a place on the Bupa Great Manchester Run and run for Alzheimer's Society.  One in three of us will die with dementia so it is something that will affect us all at sometime and the money raised will go to supporting the 750,000 people in the UK living 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 please contact

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

Bupa

Jo Hudson

T.020 7656 2667

E.joanne.hudson@bupa.com

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.