​Tributes paid to Terry Pratchett by leading charities

Leading charities have paid warm tributes to author Sir Terry Pratchett who died this week aged 68.

Pratchett, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2007, was a patron of Alzheimer’s Research UK – giving it $1 million in 2008.

He said at the time he made the donation in dollars because it “sounds larger than half a million pounds".

Hilary Evans, director of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: "The loss of Sir Terry Pratchett will have a profound effect on both literature and the 850,000 people who live with dementia," said Hilary Evans, the charity’s director.

"Sir Terry’s uniquely witty and affecting announcement of his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s at our 2008 conference will be seen as a watershed moment for all people living with dementia.

"It engendered huge public awareness of Alzheimer’s and issued a call to arms for society to talk about dementia and take steps towards defeating it."

The loss of Sir Terry Pratchett will have a profound effect on both literature and the 850,000 people who live with dementia - Hilary Evans

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, also paid tribute.

"Sir Terry Pratchett fundamentally changed the way dementia is seen and understood," he said.

"He was the most passionate of campaigners to bring change; his vehement determination to reduce the stigma of dementia meant he helped to drag it out of the shadows – kicking and screaming at times.”

And Andrew Copson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association (BHA), another charity Pratchett supported, said: "Terry was a great humanist and stalwart supporter of our work for a fairer society. He will be missed by all of us who worked with him on the causes he cared about and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.

"We at the BHA continue to be grateful for all his tireless support, a gratitude we share with all those he reached through his stories and to whom he gave hope through his campaigning."