Dementia Support Line
Our fundraising
Read the full version of our Trustees' Annual Report & Financial Statements 2021/22
The generosity of our supporters generated a record-breaking £93.3m this year.
As England, Wales and Northern Ireland re-opened, we started to hold in-person fundraising events like Memory Walk, Glow and Trek 26 – all of which raised vital funds towards our services and support.
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took part in Trek 26 this year, raising £3.8m across seven events in five locations.
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joined us for Glow, raising £489k across nine events.
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got involved in Memory Walk, raising £2.63m across 19 in-person events and one virtual offering.
“When you go, you realise you’re not the only one who’s had to deal with dementia.”
Julie Salkeld lives in County Durham and regularly takes part in fundraising Memory Walks. She looked after her mum when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Read moreJulie's Story
“My Mam, Grace, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s around 20 years ago, and she lived with it for nine years. Once she was diagnosed, she didn’t talk about dementia anymore. She had cared for us and she didn’t like the role being reversed.
She had memory problems and confusion. She thought her husband was her dad; she thought her granddaughter was me.
Sometimes she was there, with a certain twinkle, other times she wasn’t there. She steadily declined, until she just wasn’t there at all. Alzheimer’s robs you of that person.
We didn’t really know of the support then. People need to be aware of Alzheimer’s Society, whereas I don’t think we were.
I’ve done six Memory Walks in the northeast. When you go, you realise you’re not the only one who’s had to deal with dementia.
Everybody out on that field knows what you went through – I get comfort from that. I also cry every year! As soon as they set everybody off, I can’t help it, it just goes. It’s very emotional. You get that feeling of everybody coming together, all types of people. I’ve walked with people who are actually going through dementia. And I love it when people have got their dogs!
I’ll talk to anybody I’m walking beside. I once spoke all the way round to a young girl, about 16 or 17, walking for her grandad. You could see she had so much love for him. She knew dementia was a big issue. She was emotional – we cried and hugged each other at one point. You get friendship and comfort from people talking about their families and what they’ve had to deal with.
I’ve got a photo of Mam on the beach which typifies the vibrant woman she was, so I wear it on my Memory Walk T-shirt. I also wear her gold sovereign, which was her pride and joy. That goes to every Memory Walk, so she’s there with me.”
Julie Salkeld lives in County Durham and regularly takes part in fundraising Memory Walks. She looked after her mum when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
We were also supported by our valued charitable partners such as the People’s Postcode Lottery, with players raising millions of pounds towards our support and research.
“We first awarded funding to Alzheimer’s Society in 2017, supporting a project to reduce loneliness and isolation for those living with dementia. Since then, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised more than £3.5 million for Alzheimer’s Society.
Currently someone is diagnosed with dementia every three minutes, so we know the need for support is growing fast and this has only been exacerbated by the pandemic and the cost of living crisis communities are currently facing.
Over the years, we have welcomed opportunities to connect our team with the charity’s work, by offering Dementia Friends information sessions, organising visits and hearing from those working for and being supported by Alzheimer’s Society.
We are proud to have established a long-term partnership with the charity, providing flexible, unrestricted funding which they can allocate where it is needed most.”
Lisa Bellett, People's Postcode Lottery