Sylvia Hermon MP for North Down accepts a cheque on behalf of Alzheimer's Society for £11,500

The Belfast & District Veteran’s Golfing League has been actively fundraising throughout the year for Alzheimer’s Society and have raised an impressive £11,564 in support of dementia services inNorthern Ireland.

Today Lady Sylvia Hermon, MP for North Down received the cheque on behalf of the charity. Lady Hermon is a strong supporter of the charity regularly helping to raise awareness of dementia in Northern Ireland. She says, ‘“I’m thrilled and absolutely delighted that the Veterans’ Golfing League is making such a very generous donation to the Alzheimer’s Society.  It’s a tremendous amount of money to have been raised by the League, and I’m enormously grateful to them for choosing to donate it to the Alzheimer’s Society.

With over 17,700 people diagnosed inN. Irelandwith this degenerative brain disease and, I’ve no doubt, many others undiagnosed, I know Alzheimer’s Society will use this much-needed additional funding to help not only sufferers but their devoted carers too.” 

The Belfastand District Veterans League is an association of veteran golfers from fourteen Golf Clubs from the greaterBelfast area who compete weekly against each other throughout the summer. They select one charity each year to support in the local community and to date a total of over £100,000 has been donated by the players. 

Caroline Greer, Alzheimer’s Society said: ‘Our vision is of a radically improved world for people with dementia, a world where they can fully contribute to community life and live with dignity, free from discrimation. It is essential that no one has to go through dementia alone and we would like to express our gratitude to the Veteran’s League for supporting the Society through their fundraising. This large amount will enable the Society to continue providing dementia services across the Province and also help raise awareness of dementia in the local community.

There are currently 17,700 people living with dementia inNorthern Ireland; however research has shown that only 1 in 3 receives a formal diagnosis so this could be a gross underestimation - Dementia is a health and social care priority forNorthern Ireland.

Alzheimer’s Society relies heavily on the generosity of groups like the Veteran’s League to help support people to live well with dementia today and fund research to find a cure for tomorrow.

If you would like some further information on how your Group or Association could support Alzheimer’s Society in Northern Ireland please contact Caroline Greer, Partnerships Development Executive on 028 90 38 7781 or visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/events for further information on the charity.