Dementia awareness

The Scarborough Alzheimer’s Society and the Rotary Club of Scarborough have teamed up this year to help raise awareness of and funding for those affected by dementia-related diseases.

This year’s rotary president Don Graham has chosen the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society as the main recipient of funding in his presidential year. Most families will have been touched in some way by dementia.

Club members have undergone training to become Dementia Friends in pursuance of the rotary motto “Service Before Self ”. To commence this support Scarborough Rotary and the ladies of Inner Wheel recently combined to give 10 special guests an evening to remember.

The Scarborough Alzheimer’s Society nominated those dealing with memory challenges who, along with their carers, were collected in a mini bus loaned by Scarborough Boys Brigade and taken on a scenic tour of Filey and its country park.

The final part of the journey was a visit to the Killerby Stained Glass Centre, kindly opened specially for the event, where president Rosemary and the ladies of Inner Wheel had prepared and then served a splendid tea of sandwiches and cakes.

David and Rosemary Oliver then entertained by playing and singing popular songs to an appreciative audience. Carers from the Alzheimer’s Society had provided song books with lyrics but amazingly they appeared redundant as all the guests sang along with gusto – from memory. A wonderful event enjoyed by all. More importantly a night to remember for some people who deserve not to be forgotten.