‘I’ll raise a pint for Dad and funds for Alzheimer's Society’- BUPA Great North Runner teams up with his local

David's father, Alan, was diagnosed with fronto-temporal dementia in his sixties and after a gradual deterioration in his condition has now, aged 75, lost his ability to communicate.  David, who lives in North Shields, said:

'It's heartbreaking because I know there are things he wants to say, but he can't.  He laughs when he sees you and cries when you have to leave.  We've had such fantastic support from Alzheimer's Society, taking part in the Bupa Great North Run seemed like the least I could do to help.'

David's local pub, the Porthole, at the Fish Quay in North Shields, will be welcoming him back after the race with a pint of his usual tipple, and landlord Mike Read is lending his support by donating a percentage of the takings on the day to the charity.

Mike said:

'The day of the Bupa Great North Run is our busiest day of the year.  David's very game to take on a half-marathon and we're delighted to support him, especially when it's for such a worthy cause.  Everyone's welcome to join us to celebrate.' 

David is aiming for a run time of around two and a half hours and hopes the prospect of a pint at the end will keep him going, but added:

'My biggest incentive is raising some funds to fight dementia.  There are around 750,000 people in the UK with dementia, and every penny raised from the Bupa Great North Run Series this year will go towards helping them to live well today, and to fund research to find a cure for tomorrow.'

Running alongside David on the Alzheimer's Society team will be model and presenter Nell McAndrew and Casualty actor and Hollyoaks heartthrob Andy Newton-Lee.

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                                      Bupa                          

Jayne Phenton                                                 Jo Hudson

T. 020 7423 3595/ 0774 704 6750               T. 020 7656 2273                               

E. jayne.phenton@alzheimers.org.uk            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's purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives. 

A leading international healthcare group, we offer personal and company health insurance, run care homes for older people and hospitals, and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare. 

With no shareholders, we invest our profits to provide more and better healthcare.

We are committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing.

Employing over 50,000 people, Bupa has operations around the world, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, New Zealand and the USA, as well as Hong Kong, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, India, China and across Latin America. 

For more information, visit www.bupa.com