Terry Pratchett Speaks Out Against Alzheimer's Stigma

The Daily Mail online today (7 October 2008) carries an eloquent article by Terry Pratchett describing the experience of having Alzheimer's. In particular, he talks about the need to remove the stigma attached to dementia. You can read the whole thing at here.

After you've done that, I hope you'll find a quid--or another quid--to donate to the Alzheimer's Association to fund research.

Comments

[James]

Hello Match it for Pratchett readers

We recently created a video for Alzheimer’s Disease International to encourage people to sign the Global Charter Petition.

The video explores the general consensus about the condition and highlights an increasingly problematic area surrounding Alzheimer’s care.

Click on the link below to watch the video and to find out for about signing the petition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uczcnJ8AxLM

[Jem]

It would be good to see where we're up to with donations to see how much left we have to go!

Still wear my Match It t-shirt with pride.

[tatere]

the Daily Mail site is redirecting to 0.0.0.0, really odd. wonder if they are trying to block non-UK IPs.

[Tony]

I have to agree with Jem. As a new visitor to this site, I would really like to see the current total and progress toward your goal.

I think this would inspire more confidence and donations.

[Pat Cadigan]

It would be nice to get a running total from the Alzheimer's Research Trust.

At this time, however, the ART is not disclosing any financial data.

But Match It For Pratchett isn't confined to the UK. We have had word from people in the US and in Australia that they have also raised money and donated it to Alzheimer's research in their own countries. People Match It For Pratchett in all parts of the world.:)

[Winton Davies]

Interesting Alzeihmer's breakthrough from Manchester Uni?

[Jem]

Can we get an update to the site please? :)

For instance; Terry Pratchett - Living with Alzheimer's, BBC Two, Wednesday, 4 February, 9pm

[Jill]

My dad started losing his memory in his early fifties and the alzheimers took him slowly from us the next 10 years until a shell was left. I still find it too painful to think too hard about his suffering, it makes my heart bleed. He was a Vet, a passionate, clever, musical, articulate, kind and gentle man. He would have 'put him self down like an animal' if he could have done. Living in hell is not an exaggeration, I think it must be the closest place to hell. I would like to do something positive to support the work that Terry is doing. I feel so passionate about the severity of dementia, the impact on the sufferer, the carer and those that love and hurt and simply watch. I anticpate it may happen to me, I am 39 and have 2 toddlers so I hope it is sometime away....I would like to find a way to be involved in the fight to educate the world on this illness, it isn't just a mental illness, it is so much more.

[TGoose]

Alzheimer's research trust have put something in news section on 30 Jan. " Alzheimer’s Research Trust announces it has received £200,000 of donations inspired by Sir Terry’s campaigning for the charity". http://www.alzheimers-research.org.uk/news/article.php?type=News&archive=0&id=352

[Molly Dee]

Songsconnect have just launched a DVD animation about two characters, Archie & Ethel who have advanced dementia and how singing in a choir helps them to enjoy life again. Might be useful for families, children, teachers and nurses. £2 for every DVD sold goes to the ALzheimer's Research Trust in the UK. Molly Dee

[Sarah the Brit]

Terry recently did a very interesting BBC documentary on his first year of living with Alzheimers. It can still be watched on the BBC iPlayer. Thought you might want to maybe mention it on the blog.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00hhgsb/Terry_Pratchett_Living_with_Alzheimers_Episode_1/

[Anil Naik]

Hi,

My mother is suffering from 5 yrs by Demencia.
Recently we treatment her by chinese injection.
Yes there is medicine for Alzimer discovered by chinese & it gives efect if treatment earlier. The name of that injection is as follows..
cerebroprotein Hydrolystate inj. (60mg)

Anybody can search it on net.But it is costly inj.

[Guss]

I agree with Jem up there that it would be nice to see how much we collected and how much more needs to be contributed to make it a million...I mean I surelly won't be able to donate as much as my favorite writer has (offcourse that is Terry Pratchett I am talking about)..but I would do my best..but would first wanna see how much was collected so far...

[Gary]

Great Blog and fantastic work, I am running a race for Alzheimer's later this year.

[Pat Sullivan]

Oh, well. Another good intention that looks like it's gone by the wayside. Why start stuff like this if you can't stick with it? Lame. Sorry, but true.

[Chris Tregenza]

@Pat

We would of liked of done more but many factors, including my mother's ever worsening dementia, meant it was not possible to dedicate the time necessary to this project.

You may consider it lame but I proud of having helped raised thousands of pounds for a very worthy cause.