The campaign aims to show people with dementia, and their loved ones, that they’re not alone.
Dementia is said to be the UK’s biggest killer, with almost one million people in the UK living with the disease. Despite so many people suffering, those that have been, or are, affected often find themselves feeling isolated and alone.
To tackle this, Alzheimer’s Society launched a campaign called the Forget Me Not Appeal in 2021. The initiative see’s individuals wear a blue forget-me-not flower pin as a symbol to raise awareness for the illness.
Today (Monday 2nd June) the charity launched this year’s appeal. It comes in the form of a photography series, otherwise known as ‘Unforgettable Frames’, which features three well-known UK celebrities: Anna Richardson, Gareth Locke-Locke and Meera Syal CBE.
Each of the celebrities all have personal experience of dementia and this year’s initiative shows them looking through family photo albums and recounting memories before the disease became apparent in their loved ones.
‘I wear my Forget Me Not Badge for my dad, Jim,’ Anna Richardson, presenter of the Channel 4 documentary Anna Richardson: Love, Loss & Dementia and Ambassador for Alzheimer’s Society, explained. ‘My memories of my dad are him being so vibrant, purposeful and really key to the community. Seeing my dad’s dementia get worse is just heartbreaking. Dementia is a struggle for the person with it and also for their family. I’m proud to wear my Forget Me Not and help shine a light on struggles that dementia can bring.’
Echoing a similar tone, TV personality Gareth Locke-Locke, said he wears his badge for his mum.
‘My mum was an amazing mother and would do anything for us. Dementia is devastating and can be very isolating, both for the individual and their loved ones. I wear my Forget Me Not to show people they’re not alone and that we’ll face this together,’ he recounted.
Meanwhile, actress and writer Meera Syal claimed she wears her pin for her father, who sadly passed away from dementia in 2018. She said: ‘Alzheimer’s Society was really invaluable in its support when we were going through my father’s diagnosis and after. I wear my Forget Me Not badge to honour his memory and let others know that there is support available.’
The campaign is set to run throughout June and if you would like to grab your own badge and show your support they can be purchased for a small donation on Alzheimer’s Society’s website or at your local Morrisons, where they will be available from 2nd – 8th June.
What’s more, this month the charity are set to team up with ITV to raise awareness of its support services, linked to the emerging Coronation Street storyline which has seen long-standing character Debbie Webster being diagnosed with dementia.
Corinne Mills, interim CEO at Alzheimer’s Society, added: ‘One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime so it’s something that affects us all.
‘The Forget Me Not flower symbolises solidarity and hope within the dementia community and this June we’re asking people to help beat dementia by donating to get your Forget Me not and show what beating dementia means to you.’
Image credit: Alzheimer’s Society
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