Sports join forces to battle dementia

SPORT’S fight against dementia has received a significant boost after the Premier League and Premiership Rugby joined forces for the first time as part of a major campaign. The Alzheimer’s Society launched Sport United Against Dementia in November in a bid to raise funds and awareness, with the campaign’s board being chaired by Surrey county cricket chairman Richard Thompson. But the board has now been bolstered by the recruitment of Premier League executive director Bill Bush and Premiership Rugby chief commercial officer Mark Brittain as members, in a further sign British sport is finally beginning to take its dementia crisis seriously. The ECB’s chief executive Tom Harrison has also joined the Sport United Against Dementia board, as have directors from the BBC, ITV and Sky Sports. The alliance of leading figures from football, rugby, cricket and broadcasting has been hailed as a ‘game-changer’ in helping support sportspeople and fans suffering from the condition and protecting future generations. Thompson told Sportsmail: ‘There has never been a more apt time for the world of sport to step up and ensure people affected by dementia are not forgotten. ‘The Daily Mail’s Tackle Dementia campaign has already played a huge role in bringing the issue to the forefront. ‘We urge clubs and bodies to have a duty of care to their players and fans affected by dementia. We want this campaign to be a gamechanger and leave a legacy by harnessing the unparalleled reach of sport to make a transformative difference.’