The dementia organisation will be Rangers Charity Foundation’s new national charity partner for season 2015/16
Alzheimer Scotland has teamed up as the charity partner of Scotland’s most successful football club.
The dementia organisation will be Rangers Charity Foundation’s new national charity partner for season 2015/16.
The foundation is pledging to raise £25,000 towards vital projects, including its 24 Hour Dementia Helpline, and will encourage staff and fans of the club to support the charity as well.
Rachel Smith, head of corporate partnerships at Alzheimer Scotland, said she hopes fans embrace activities over the year.
“Together with the Rangers Charity Foundation and its supporters, I am confident we can do great things for dementia awareness and support,” she said.
Together with the Rangers Charity Foundation and its supporters, I am confident we can do great things for dementia awareness and support
“Football has a positive power beyond the 90 minutes of play and can inspire the lives of fans across decades.
“Our new partnership aims to harness this positivity to challenge perceptions of dementia.
“With an exciting programme of activity and fundraising events over the coming season, we hope fans will join our Tackling Dementia with Alzheimer Scotland campaign and become Dementia Friends and help build a legacy of support and awareness for the future.”
Over 90,000 people in Scotland are currently living with dementia and the number is set to double in a generation.
It is estimated that around 76% of Scots know someone who is affected by the disease, of which Alzheimer’s is the most common, which affects memory and can lead to changes in mood and personality.
“Many Rangers supporters will have experienced dementia in their lives, whether they are living with the illness themselves or a family member or friend has dementia," Rangers defender Lee Wallace said at the launch of the project.
“The Rangers Charity Foundation wants to help make sure that no-one has to face the condition alone and is making this pledge to assist Alzheimer Scotland’s work across the country for those living with dementia.”
Connal Cochrane, manager of the Rangers Charity Foundation added: "Alzheimer Scotland is the country’s leading charity for dementia care and we are delighted to be working with them this season, assisting three projects that bring support, hope and understanding for people living with dementia in Scotland.
“We believe that we can make a significant contribution to the work of this deserving charity not only with our financial pledge but also by encouraging a wider dialogue about the disease and inspiring staff at the foundation and club along with fans to become Dementia Friends.”
Founded in 1872 and having gone on to win over 100 major trophies, Rangers will be hosting an Alzheimer Scotland Football Memories Project at their home stadium Ibrox this season.
The project, in partnership with the Scottish Football Museum Trust, has been hugely successful at improving the lives of football fans with dementia by using football images and memorabilia from 1945 to 1980 to aid recall and memory for participants.
Feedback from group members and their carers is said to have been fantastic and the project has really helped to boost the confidence and self-esteem of those taking part.
To find out more about Alzheimer Scotland’s project, including its visit its website at alzscot.org.
