BBC gardener Chris is digging deep for Alzheimer’s Society in the Bupa London 10,000

BBC gardener Chris is digging deep for Alzheimer's Society in the Bupa London 10,000

Award-winning garden designer and TV presenter, Chris Beardshaw, is swapping his wellingtons for trainers to run for Alzheimer's Society in the Bupa London 10,000 run on 30 May.   Chris, who is presenting live coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show on BBC2 this week, is a keen cycling enthusiast, but is especially looking forward to the challenge of the10k run.  Chris said:

'When you get involved in a Bupa Great Run for Alzheimer's Society, you get all the support you need to help you achieve your goal whilst helping to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers.  Regular exercise can reduce your risk of dementia and running for such an important charity has given me the incentive to get out and train.'

Chris, familiar from such programmes as The Flying Gardener, Gardener's World and Wild About Your Garden, is so enthusiastic, he's even persuaded his wife, Frances, to run alongside him.  He added:

Along with Chris and Frances, the star of Married.Single.Other and critically acclaimed TV drama, Exile, actor Shaun Dooley, and BBC's Animal Hospital presenter, Jamie Darling, will be leading 250 Alzheimer's Society runners.

The Bupa London 10,000 is one of the most scenic 10k runs starting and ending in St James's Park and is expected to attract over 13,000 runners.

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

'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.'

- Ends -

Notes to editors:

Photographs available.  For enquiries or to arrange an interview 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 just ten years 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 supports people to live well with dementia today and funds research to find a cure for tomorrow. We rely on voluntary donations to continue our vital work. 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 nearly 52,000 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.