The message below is from Norman McNamara, co- creator of Dementia Awareness Day to be held countrywide on 17th September 2011.

I am Bolton born and bred but emigrated to Torquay twelve years ago. Three years ago I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s “Early onset” and since then I have campaigned long and hard to give people and their carer’s/loved ones with this awful disease a VOICE and to reduce the Stigma that is unfortunately connected with Dementia in general.

I have appeared on TV, radio and magazines to try and show the world that we have a voice and not just people to be shunned or forgotten about. We used to be the “Forgotten Ones” but not anymore. Dementia is the biggest crisis in our heath service at this time and is only going to get worse unless we all address the problem and talk about it openly just like Cancer and HIV is now spoke about openly.

I firmly believe that a new age is now dawning for people with Dementia and their loved ones, this is our time, and never before has the illness been more in the public eye than now, so it is up to all of us to pick it up and run with it as fast as we can until we rid the stigma that comes with it and hopefully a cure is found.

So please join me and others all around the country on this day and help raise awareness of this disease like never before, and if you make a few funds for your own charity along the way then all well and good. You can hold a tea party, stalls, bring and buy, jumble sales ECT anything you want!! All I ask is that you put a table to one side and have lots of information about Dementia (all Types) you can get these leaflets and more from Dementia UK or The Alzheimer’s Society, or any other dementia organisation you know.

I have no idea what the future holds for me as many in my position also don’t, but I will make this promise to you all, I will promise to fight this disease all the way and hopefully I will be here next year to celebrate Dementia Awareness day, and the next year, and the next, well, you can guess the rest LOL.

Very best wishes and most of all, enjoy the day,

Norrms, Elaine and family xxxxxxxxxxx
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