Today (Monday 2 June) the UK’s leading dementia charity, Alzheimer’s Society, releases a new photography series to launch its 2025 Forget Me Not Appeal which aims to end the devastation caused by dementia – the UK’s biggest killer, with nearly one million people in the UK and more than 106,000 in the North West living with the condition.
Unforgettable Frames
Alzheimer’s Society Ambassadors Anna Richardson, Gareth-Locke-Locke and Meera Syal – who all have personal experience of dementia – feature in a powerful and intimate series of images – Unforgettable Frames.
Sharing intimate photos of their lives before dementia devastated their families, and their personal reasons for wearing a Forget Me Not badge, the celebrities alongside Alzheimer’s Society are encouraging people across North West to donate and receive a Forget me Not badge to support the appeal throughout June
Donations can be made in more than 400 Morrisons stores across the UK during 2-8 June, as the supermarkets host Forget Me Not collection points for customers to receive their badges.
Anna Richardson, Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador and presenter of the Channel 4 documentary Anna Richardson: Love, Loss & Dementia, explained:
I wear my Forget Me Not badge for my dad, Jim. 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.
Sue has young onset dementia
When Sue Girvan, a busy Facilities Assistant from Huyton in Merseyside, noticed she was making mistakes in work, it wasn’t long before she started to wonder if she should get checked out by her GP. Sue, who was 63 at the time, was eventually referred to a local memory clinic, who came out to assess her at home. She then had an MRI scan and some blood tests, followed by an appointment with a Consultant, who diagnosed her with young onset dementia.
It was a shock but I was able to start on medication to delay my symptoms. I carried on working for a while but it got to be too much for me. I found the open plan office environment very noisy and distracting and was able to leave work on medical grounds. As I wasn’t yet at retirement age, it was also a financial shock. I applied for PIP and was rejected twice but was then awarded it after going to a tribunal – that process took 17 months.
Sue now focuses on making the most of each day, with her friends and family and dog, Dexter.
I keep myself busy and try to go out every day. I’ve also made arrangements for the future by sorting out Power of Attorney and moving to a more manageable bungalow. I go to Alzheimer’s Society groups and am always happy to volunteer for things. I’ll be collecting for their Forget Me Not Appeal in June.
Helena wears the badge for her husband
Helena Neill, from Newtownards in Co Down, is wearing her Forget Me Not badge for her husband, Tom. She first noticed problems with Tom’s memory on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary back in 2023. They had gone on holiday but Tom kept forgetting their room number and then couldn’t remember how to get back to the hotel. Helena says;
Tom had always had a great sense of direction, so it was very out of character. Our kids had also organised a party for our anniversary and Tom didn’t know what the cake was for.
It was difficult to persuade Tom to go to the doctor but eventually he made an appointment and was accompanied by their son. Helena says it was a good thing their son was with him as; “He told the doctor all about his work even though he had been retired for about 15 years at that stage.” They knew something wasn’t right and didn’t want to go on the long waiting list for a brain scan, so opted to pay for one privately. The scan revealed that Tom had a mixed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia.
Since then, Tom’s symptoms have developed. He’s had to give up driving and doesn’t sleep well. Sometimes he forgets who Helena is.
When he doesn’t recognise me, or asks to go home when we’re already at home, that has been very difficult to cope with. It gets very frustrating for both of us. But we are lucky in that we have a very good family and our son and daughter are both very hands-on. You have to just try to keep your sense of humour and accept that every day is a new day.
Every donation helps
Every donation to the Forget Me Not Appeal helps fund crucial Alzheimer’s Society services and groundbreaking dementia research. In 2023/24, the charity’s Dementia Support Line answered nearly 60,000 calls from those in need.
A donation of £10 could help fund research to end the devastation caused by dementia, £20 could pay for two weeks of essential Companion Calls for someone affected by dementia, while £50 could help families access a Dementia Adviser providing essential support.
Donate to a volunteer in a Morrison’s this week
Thousands of Alzheimer’s Society volunteers will be in Morrisons stores across the UK welcoming people as they collect their Forget Me Not badge.
David Scott, Director of Corporate Affairs at Morrisons said:
We are delighted to be supporting Alzheimer’s Society’s Forget Me Not Appeal in June for the third year in a row. Dementia touches the lives of many of our colleagues and customers. We will be hosting volunteer collections across our supermarkets and selling Forget Me Not badges to raise income and awareness, spark conversations and show solidarity with those living with dementia.
Host a fundraising tea party and get a badge
People across the North West can also support by hosting a fundraising Forget Me Not Tea Party throughout June to raise money for people living with dementia or receive their badge by donating at the appeal page on the Alzheimer’s Society’s website
Corinne Mills, interim CEO at Alzheimer’s Society, said:
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.
Everyone will have their own reason for wearing a badge, it could be in honour of a loved one receiving life-changing support, or in recognition of the groundbreaking research shaping the future for those living with dementia.
Whatever your reason, please donate at alzheimers.org.uk/forgetmenotappeal
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