Actors Carey Mulligan, David Bradley and Anne-Marie Duff joined 400 guests at Southwark Cathedral last night for the Alzheimer’s Society annual Christmas carol concert.
Mulligan hosted the event in memory of her beloved grandmother, ‘Nans’ who had dementia. She said: “I have had the privilege of being an Ambassador for Alzheimer’s Society for a number of years now. And I know just how enormously dedicated the charity is to helping thousands of people with dementia every year.
“People living with dementia and their families often feel alone and don’t have enough support.
“I’m proud to see the developments in research, but while we power progress for a cure, everyone affected by dementia must have somewhere to turn to for help and advice.
“Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Helpline is a lifeline to so many people, but it can only cope with increasing demand through donations, which is why I’m honoured to be a part of such a fabulous event this evening.
“Dementia is heartbreaking, but it is possible to live well with dementia. Nans taught me that.
“This Christmas, if you have a loved one with dementia, spend time with them. Love them, the same way you always have. And please, if you can, give a Christmas gift to Alzheimer’s Society so we can make sure no one with dementia faces it alone.”
The charity’s Croydon-based ‘Singing for the Brain’ dementia choir performed old-time holiday favourites including Sinatra’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and Crobsy’s Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
In the last decade, the number of crisis calls to the charity’s helpline have more than doubled.
Relatedarticles
There are 850,000 people living with dementia in the country right now, a figure set to rise to one million by 2025.
For more information, and to donate, visit alzheimers.org.uk
