Passionate volunteers in Edinburgh are being asked to come forward to help form a new fundraising group to support Alzheimer’s Research UK. The UK’s leading dementia research charity is looking for people with a range of skills to help set up the group, which will aim to raise vital funds and awareness across the region.
Members can get involved in a variety of ways, from getting stuck into fundraising challenges to raise money for pioneering research to representing Alzheimer’s Research UK at events and spreading the word about the charity within their local communities.
Alzheimer’s Research UK regional groups play a crucial part in the fight against dementia, which currently affects around 70,000 people in Scotland, including around 6,000 people in Edinburgh.
A free introductory event has been organised for people to find out more about volunteering for the charity. The event is on Saturday 25 November, from 10am to 1pm at the Novotel Edinburgh Centre, 80 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9DE.
There will be a talk from Dr Jill Fowler, Alzheimer’s Research UK Senior Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, giving an overview of the research going on in her lab to defeat dementia.
She is leading a pioneering project investigating whether a protein, Nrf2, can protect against damage caused by reduced blood flow in the brain, which may be an early contributor to Alzheimer’s. By closely examining this protein, scientists will be able to understand more about its role in protecting the brain. They hope to use this knowledge to develop interventions to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
It is one of 59 research projects in Scotland which have been funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK, with the charity providing grants totalling more than £6.4m. The charity recently announced almost £600,000 of new funding for scientists in Scotland.
Attendees at the event will also have to opportunity to play Sea Hero Quest, a game launched by Deutsche Telekom and Alzheimer’s Research UK, which generates data for research. They can also try A Walk Through Dementia, a virtual reality experience putting people in the shoes of a person with dementia.
Kyle Lockhart, Regional Fundraising Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Dementia has a huge impact on families and it’s important to us at Alzheimer’s Research UK that communities have the opportunity to come together and get involved with supporting dementia research.
“Regional fundraising groups are vital in helping us to defeat dementia, both through raising funds and helping to spread awareness of this cruel condition.
“Alzheimer’s Research UK’s vision is a world free from the fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia and our supporters are key to helping us bring about the first life-changing dementia treatment by 2025.
“We’re confident we’re going to find passionate and dedicated fundraisers in Edinburgh with the same vision and I look forward to meeting people at the introductory event.”
For more information about the event and volunteering for Alzheimer’s Research UK in Scotland contact Kyle on 07760884529 or kyle.lockhart@
For further information about Alzheimer’s Research UK visit www.alzheimersresearchuk.org
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