‘Extremely moving to see so many people come together to remember loved ones’ – Portsmouth Memory Walk raises more than £70,000 for dementia research

Almost 900 Alzheimer’s Society supporters from across the Portsmouth region turned Canoe Lake blue to support people affected by dementia.

Sylvie Cooper, an accountant from Locks Heath, volunteered at the event as walkers remembered loved ones, raising £70,500 towards Alzheimer’s Society’s vital work.

Sylvie said: “People who have to deal with dementia should not face this alone and need a lot of support.

"My mother is living with dementia and it is horrible. I could not have managed without all the various support I receive.

“I know how desperately research is trying to find a solution. Alzheimer’s Society also helps and supports people going through it – it’s so isolating, so this is really important.

"I’ve done walks and raised money before, but this time I decided to help Alzheimer's Society help other people raise money.”

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, with one in three people born in the UK today going on to develop the condition in their lifetime.

Alzheimer’s Society is vowing to help stop the devastation caused by dementia, with money raised from the family-friendly sponsored walks going towards funding crucial research and supporting people living with dementia.

Marion Childs, Alzheimer’s Society Head of Local Services, said: “We are in awe of our incredible fundraisers, who turned out in their hundreds to support the 2,400 people living with dementia in Portsmouth.

“It was extremely moving to see so many people come together to honour or remember their loved ones.

"Every pound raised from the Portsmouth Memory Walk will make a huge difference.

"Supporters were walking to fund faster diagnosis, ongoing support and vital research, helping people with dementia live more fulfilled lives now and in the future.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped make this year’s Portsmouth Memory Walk such a brilliant success.”

In 2022, dementia and Alzheimer’s accounted for the deaths of 65,967 people across the Portsmouth local authority district – 11.4% of all deaths recorded.

That figure was up from 61,250 (10.4%) in 2021.

Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 900,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia. By 2025, 1 million people will be living with the condition in the UK, and many millions more carers, partners, families and friends are affected.

Dementia deaths are rising year on year and 225,000 will develop dementia this year - one every three minutes.