Loose Women star Ruth Langsford unites with 2,000 people for Memory Walk

The Loose Women and This Morning presenter brought along her dog Maggie as she kicked off her local Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walk which took place at Epsom Racecourse.

Ruth, whose dad Dennis sadly passed away in 2012 after living with Alzheimer’s for 13 years, then paid tribute to the walkers for coming together to raise funds to defeat dementia and raise awareness of the condition.

Ruth said:

'I’m so happy to have been a part of the Epsom Memory Walk for Alzheimer’s Society, standing alongside everyone fighting for the same cause.

'Memory Walk brings together carers, those living with dementia and those who have been affected by dementia.

'When my Dad was diagnosed with dementia my family felt lost and didn’t know much about the disease.

'But that was 16 years ago and thanks to the Alzheimer’s Society things have progressed and we can raise the awareness of dementia through events like these.'

Dementia devastates lives, but every pound raised through Memory Walk helps Alzheimer’s Society provide vital services and fund research to improve care and find a cure.
 

Ruth added:

'The Memory Walk is always such a fun day out for family, friends and the community to rally together to unite and fight dementia.

'I’ve done the walk for eight years now and find the occasion more and more inspirational every year.

'There’s still time to get involved, with Memory Walks up and down the country taking place. I hope everyone gets involved so we can raise the funds needed to find a cure for dementia, for everyone we love.'

Ruth is among 100,000 people who are taking part in 40 Memory Walks this autumn and the charity is hoping they will generate as much as £9 million to help people affected by dementia.

Of the top 10 causes of death, dementia is the only one that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed down. Research will beat dementia but more funding is urgently needed to find a cure.

Alzheimer's Society is committed to spending at least £150 million over the next decade on dementia research – and Memory Walk will help to raise vital funds towards this.

Alzheimer’s Society Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Hughes said:

'Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer – someone develops dementia every three minutes, with 1 million set to develop the condition by 2021.

'We are enormously grateful that Ruth - and lest we forget Maggie - are rising to the huge challenge it poses by uniting with Alzheimer’s Society to help us defeat dementia.

'Sadly, dementia devastates lives, but every single penny raised through Memory Walk will help Alzheimer’s Society provide vital information and support, improve care, fund research and create lasting change for people affected by the disease.'