Singing penguins boost funds for Alzheimer’s Society
The charity team at Otter Garden Centres in Ottery St Mary is delighted to reveal the total raised for 2018 charity of the year, Alzheimer’s Society, which came to just over £8,000.
The money will help fund services across Devon and fund important research into dementia.
Team Leader Mary Harrison, who helps coordinate the fundraising, said: “Each year we are amazed by the generosity of customers and staff, and we’re delighted that the total is even higher than the last one, so a big thank you to everyone who donated.”
Staff quizzes and the annual Memory Tree helped the fundraising efforts, but the largest amounts came from donations given on the land train taking visitors to Santa’s Grotto and a group of animated acapella penguins which were a real hit in the Plants Centre; together these raised £3,000.
Claire Frost, Community Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society in Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly said: “We are extremely grateful to the staff and customers at Otter Garden Centres for all of the time and energy they put into their fundraising for Alzheimer's Society.
“The money they’ve raised will help to transform the lives of everyone affected by dementia, through support and creating lasting change for the 84,000 people estimated to be living with dementia in the South West. We want everyone affected by dementia to know that whoever you are, whatever you are going through, you can turn to Alzheimer’s Society for support, help and advice.”
Alzheimer’s Society provides a number of services across Devon. The charity’s dementia support workers offer information and practical guidance to help people understand dementia, cope with day-to-day challenges and prepare for the future through its Devon and Torbay Dementia Advisor service. Other services include a telephone helpline and online forum ‘Talking Point’, a helpful online community where anyone who is affected by dementia can receive valuable support.
Local ‘Singing for the Brain’ groups, based around the principles of music therapy, provide people affected by dementia an opportunity to meet new people in a friendly, fun and social environment. The charity also operates a number of memory cafes across Devon. These informal groups allow people in a similar situation to get together for a chat over a cup of tea, or coffee, and the chance to take part in a variety of activities.
As well as supporting services, money raised for Alzheimer’s Society also helps to fund research into the cause, care, cure and prevention of all types of dementia.
