Terry Pratchett, author of the bestselling Discworld novels, has been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's. He has donated half a million pounds (approx $1 million) to Alzheimer's research and appeared in the media highlighting the low levels of research funding Alzheimer's receives.
Match It For Pratchett is a spontaneous, grassroots, totally unofficial campaign by loyal readers from around the world to raise money on behalf of the
Alzheimer's Research Trust in the UK and Alzheimer's research in general around the world.
What is Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer's disease (AD), also called Alzheimer disease or simply Alzheimer's, is the most common cause of dementia, afflicting 24 million people worldwide. Alzheimer's is a degenerative and terminal disease for which there is currently no cure. In its most common form, it occurs in people over 65 years old although a rarer early-onset form also exists.
How Can I Help?
1. Give money directly to
Alzheimer's Research Trust. If you are a UK citizen, this qualifies for
Gift Aid
2. For a fast, three click donation, use the Paypal button below.
Like option 1, this goes straight to the Alzheimer's Research Trust but doesn't qualify for Gift Aid.
3. Tell people about
Match It For Pratchett. Use your blog, Twitter or Facebook. Email your friends, tell strangers in the street, dress up as an orangutan and hang from a tree. Do whatever you can to spread the word.
If you wish to contact MatchItForPratchett.org, please email us at this address: Hello [ at ] MatchItForPratchett [ dot ] org.
Yay! We're a tenth of the way there. :-)
Posted by: Sue | April 03, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Are you keeping track of donations made directly to the Alzheimer''s Research Trust? I just made a small donation directly so they can claim gift aid but I don't know whether it will be contained in the total.
Also, where is the donation Jar mentioned?
Posted by: Kate | April 20, 2008 at 08:16 PM
Hi, Kate--
The "donation jar" is actually the PayPal button in the centre column. Any donations made via this button go directly to the UK Alzheimer's Trust.
Any donation you make to the UK Alzheimer's Trust mentioning that you are doing so as part of the Match It For Pratchett campaign, or in honour of Terry Pratchett, will be counted.
I haven't seen an update about how much money ART has taken in since the last one. Perhaps Andrew Scheuber will check in with a new total soon.
Posted by: Pat Cadigan | April 21, 2008 at 01:19 AM