Local forces wife takes up challenge of the Bupa Great South Run for Alzheimer’s Society

Squadron Leader Dave Fielder is on a six month tour of duty in Kandahar with the RAF, and while he's away Emma has been in training for the ten mile run in Portsmouth.  Emma, who lives in Staines, said:

'It's difficult Dave being away for so long, but training has given me a focus and helped to distract me from worrying about him too much.  The Bupa Great South Run will be a challenge for me, but compared to the challenges faced every day by people with dementia and their carers, it's really a small effort.  Working at Alzheimer's Society, I've been fortunate enough to meet many people with dementia and the people who care for them.  I'm running for Alzheimer's Society to help them to live well today and to fund research to find a cure in the future.'

Emma and Dave have been married for almost a year and moved to Staines in 2007 to be close to RAF High Wycombe and within reach of central London where Emma works as a Press Officer for the UK's leading dementia charity.

Emma added:

'Dave and I are in touch every day and he's incredibly supportive.  He ran the London Marathon for charity this year so he's given me lots of running tips.  He'll be home on leave for our first wedding anniversary on 7 November, so thinking about that will keep me going.  I'll be with 1,800 other people running for Alzheimer's Society so I won't be alone.'

Leading the Alzheimer's Society team are comedian and 'Outnumbered' actor Hugh Dennis, Daybreak's Dr Hilary Jones and the voice of M&S food and star of 'Ballykissangel' and BBC drama 'The Silence', actress Dervla Kirwan.

Last year, thanks to Bupa, over £1 million was raised to fight dementia, but the charity is aiming to beat that this year. 

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                                        Bupa                          

Jayne Phenton                                               Joanne 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.