Alzheimer’s Society has launched Sport United Against Dementia, a
pioneering fundraising and awareness campaign to spearhead change
in the industry and find positive solutions for past and present
sportspeople, their families and fans.
Alzheimer’s Society has partnered with sport industry
experts from across multiple sports to form a Sport United
Against Dementia board, to ensure the most co-ordinated approach
to shining a light on issues around sport and dementia. The
campaign has been launched after the links between the risk of
developing dementia and playing contact sports or heading
footballs has been the subject of great debate and interest in
recent years. The campaign will also help transform the way sport
supports people affected by dementia, from fans to players by
making clubs more dementia friendly.
The leading dementia charity is calling for more research
into the links between sport and dementia, to provide more
answers and better understand the potential impact of heading
footballs and playing contact sports.
Sport United Against Dementia aims to raise significant
funds towards Alzheimer’s Society’s vital support services, which
have been used over 2.7million times since the pandemic started
in March, such as the charity’s expert Dementia Advisors and
Dementia Connect support line. People with dementia have been
worst hit by coronavirus both in terms of deaths from the virus,
but also the knock-on effect of lockdown causing isolation and
interruption to health and social care services. The charity is
calling for clubs and bodies to work with Alzheimer’s
Society to provide dedicated training to frontline-staff and
ensure that past and present players, their families and fans
affected by dementia get the very best support to be
available, including being referred to Alzheimer’s Society
right at the point of diagnosis.
The Sport United Against Dementia board is chaired by
Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador Richard Thompson, non-executive
Chairman of Surrey Cricket Club and Chairman and Chief Executive
of talent management agency M&C Saatchi Merlin, which has
Harry Redknapp, Freddie Flintoff and Jermaine Jenas on its client
list. Other members of the board include:
Backing the campaign is Alzheimer’s Society’s Ambassador
Robbie Savage, who lost his Dad Colin to Pick’s disease, a rare
form of dementia, when he was just 64 years old, having been
diagnosed aged 58. The former footballer was recently announced
as Director of Football at the relaunched Macclesfield FC and the
newly formed club has chosen Alzheimer’s Society as its official
charity partner, making a commitment to raise further awareness
and funds towards Sport United Against Dementia.
Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador Robbie Savage
said: “My dad was my hero and was struck
down by dementia in his prime - it was absolutely devastating for
the whole family. I’ve been an ambassador for Alzheimer’s Society
for a decade and with so many of our footballing heroes having
also been affected by dementia, I couldn’t just sit back and not
act. It’s important to me to see this club unite with a charity
so close to my heart and that’s why Macclesfield FC will champion
Alzheimer’s Society’s Sport United Against Dementia campaign. We
fully support the charity’s efforts to call for more research and
raise funds and awareness of Alzheimer’s Society’s vital support
services, which need to be offered to more players and fans who
are facing a difficult journey ahead.”
There has never been a more apt time for Alzheimer’s
Society to step up to the mark to get more answers for the
sporting community, with the recent sad passing of 1966 legends
Jack Charlton and Nobby Stiles, who both had dementia, and the
announcement earlier this month that Sir Bobby Charlton has been
diagnosed with the condition. Alzheimer’s Society has been
supported by a number of football stars, including Sir Geoff
Hurst, the late OBE and Uriah
Rennie and Alzheimer’s Society is a partner and beneficiary of
the upcoming film Finding Jack Charlton, which explores
the realities of living with dementia and honours the legacy of
the World Cup winner and football manager,
At a time when Alzheimer’s Society has seen a significant
shortfall in income, and the pandemic has wreaked devastation on
hundreds of thousands of people with dementia and their families,
who, on top of thousands dying from the virus, have seen symptoms
increase and mental health deteriorate as a result of a lack of
social contact and interruptions to essential care and support.
While a testing pilot has now been introduced, the Government’s
recent visiting guidance, has left care homes – and people with
dementia who make up at least 70% of residents – literally ‘out
in the cold’, with families resorting to drastic measures to see
their loved ones who heavily rely on family carers to keep them
tethered to the world.
Kate Lee, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s
Society:
“We urgently need more answers and the right support for
the sporting community where dementia is concerned.
We want to see much more research into the links between
dementia and football, but this will take time, and needs
funding, particularly when all charities, like ourselves, have
been badly hit financially by the pandemic. Until then, I’m
really excited to launch our Sport United Against Dementia
campaign, seeking to spearhead change by making sure that the
very best support is available to all sportspeople. As the
leading dementia charity, we hope that the industry will embrace
the team spirit that has helped win cups, trophies and medals and
come out in force to unite against dementia.”
