Bupa and the UK's leading dementia charities to partner for third year ‘running’

Bupa is the leading international healthcare group. Over 10,000 people have run for the two charities in the Bupa Great Runs Series since the beginning of the partnership in 2009, and the charities are on target to raise over £1 million for the second year in a row. By the end of 2011, the charities hoped to have raised in excess of £3.5 million.

The partnership is vitally important to Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland. The money raised so far via the Bupa Great Run Series will help to provide information and support services for people with dementia, and their carers, and fund research to find a cure.

Over 750,000 people in Britain live with dementia and this figure is expected to double over the next thirty years.  A third of people who live in Bupa's 305 care homes around the UK require specialist dementia care.

Dr Graham Stokes, director of dementia care at Bupa Care Services said:

'We're very pleased to be supporting Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland for a third year. As the UK's leading provider of dementia care, we're committed to helping people with the disease to live well. We understand how important it is to work with Alzheimer's Society to support people with dementia today and find a cure for tomorrow. Signing up to support the Alzheimer's charities in a Bupa Great Run means you can get fit, help reduce your risk of dementia and raise money for a very worthwhile cause.'

Jo Swinhoe, director of fundraising and marketing at Alzheimer's Society said:

'We are incredibly proud of everyone who has taken up the challenge of a Bupa Great Run to raise funds for us and extremely grateful for their efforts.  We rely on voluntary income to support people with dementia and their carers and undertake our vital research, so we are thrilled to have this opportunity for a third year and are committed to raising even more in 2011.'

Henry Simmons, chief executive at Alzheimer Scotland said:

'We believe that no-one should have to go through dementia on their own and we are extremely pleased to be working with the Bupa Great Run Series again in 2011. The money raised in the past two years through this amazing fundraising partnership has made a big difference to people with dementia and their families across Scotland, so this third year of opportunity is greatly welcomed by everyone in our organisation.'

Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland are calling for runners to support them in one of the 2011 Bupa Great Runs across the country.  For further details visit alzheimers.org.uk/greatrun or telephone 0870 417 0192. Runners in Scotland can visit www.alzscot.org or telephone 0845 260 0789.

Bupa has sponsored the Great Run Series for 18 years, and last year helped raise over £28 million for charity in total.

- Ends -

For enquiries or to arrange an interview please contact:

Alzheimer's Society                                      Alzheimer Scotland                          Bupa              

Jayne Phenton                                             Kirsty Jardine                                   Jo Hudson

T.  020 7423 3595                                       T.  0131 243 1453                            T. 020 7656 2273      

E.  jayne.phenton@alzheimers.org.uk         E.  kjardine@alzscot.org                   E. joanne.hudson@bupa.com

Notes to Editors

Bupa Care Services

• Bupa operates 305 nursing and residential homes in the UK and cares for almost 18,500 people
• Bupa is the only company to offer Alzheimer's Society-trained Dementia Champions in our UK specialist care homes - over 25% of our beds in the UK are registered for specialist dementia care
• Bupa care homes are open to everyone - over 70 percent of Bupa's UK residents receive state funding
• Bupa Care Services employs over 27,000 people
• Bupa also owns care homes in Spain, Australia, and New Zealand

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. 

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

Alzheimer Scotland

• Speaks out for the rights and concerns of people with dementia and their carers;
• Operates services on over 60 sites throughout Scotland providing practical services such as day, evening and weekend centres, home care and befriending and carers' support services;
• Provides the 24 hour national free phone Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000);
• Provides the website  www.alzscot.org
  
• Supports a network of over 40 carers' support groups;
• Provides information to carers, professionals and people with dementia;
• Publishes leaflets, booklets, reports and a quarterly newsletter keeping carers and professionals up-to-date
• Has a research programme