Despite the changes in Barbara, there is still so much of her there.. her humour, her wit and care for others, for example
marathon, no matter what the time, to show my support for Barbara and others living with dementia across the country.”
Scott revealed earlier this year that his wife had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014.
He urges anyone who has got a place in the marathon ballot “and still isn’t sure who to run for” to “join the Dementia Revolution team with me to show all our loved ones with dementia, like Barbara, that they are not alone and we stand with them”.
Scott’s words will reassure fans after it was revealed in June how Babs’ health had taken a turn for the worse. Rita Simons, who played the soap legend’s niece Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders, told then how she had heard from Scott that “she has had a real dip lately”. She added: “I’ve seen more confusion, which is really devastating to watch because she was always the life and soul of the room.” It was also revealed this year that Babs had a heart operation to fit a pacemaker following a fainting incident. Scott has previously told how Babs sometimes forgets they are
LOVED Babs has received ‘incredible love and support’ married. He said then: “She suddenly has no recollection of our history. She’ll look at her wedding ring and say, ‘Are we married?’ But that’s the thing about this cruel disease, isn’t it?”
The Dementia Revolution is a joint campaign by the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK to change attitudes and “raise millions of pounds for the most ambitious dementia research initiative the UK has ever seen”.
Scott adds: “I’m really nervous but also excited to be running the Virgin Money London Marathon for the Dementia Revolution next year.
“When I found out it was on April 28, it seemed like fate as it will be my
56th birthday, so I took
...the forecast number of dementia victims in Britain by 2051
520,000. The Alzheimer’s Society says 70% of care home residents have dementia or severe memory problems.
After 65, the Alzheimer’s risk doubles every five years and one in six people over 80 has the disease. It affects about twice as many women as men, though the reasons are unclear, says the Alzheimer’s Society. that as a sign that I had to go for it. Since Barbara’s diagnosis, I’ve learnt so much more about dementia, which is why it’s so important we get as many people together as possible to run as part of the Dementia Revolution to raise awareness and vital money for dementia research at the UK Dementia Research Institute.” A million people live with the condition in the UK and it is now the country’s leading cause of death, ahead of heart disease. There are currently no effective treatments to slow, prevent or cure the diseases that cause dementia but scientists are working tirelessly to beat the condition.
Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “It is wonderful to have Dame Barbara Windsor, her husband Scott, and others joining the Dementia Revolution.” Alzheimer’s Research UK’s chief executive Hilary Evans said: “The Dementia Revolution is a unique opportunity to show the world the impact of dementia and raise millions of pounds for research.”