£66 million? Lovely, but…

David Cameron announced this week that the Government would be putting £66 million more into dementia research. He also pledged extra funds to help hospitals with diagnosis.

This is good news, without doubt. It means more resources for research, and these are urgently needed. It has also served to raise awareness of the condition, the suffering it causes and the horrifying cost to public services.

Is there a downside? Well, only if it causes people to switch off and think they can leave it to HM Government. The sums involved are unimaginable for most of us, but they are not going to fund all the research that is needed. The Government has built the bridge a little bit further out, but it is up to the rest of us to make sure it reaches the other side.

The other reason is that we can expect the additional funds, made available through official channels, to find their way most naturally to large scale clinical trials and other hugely expensive projects. This is good, because it is not the sort of bill that many charities could pick up. However, we still need to give wings to the smaller initiatives, the pilot projects and other pioneering work that can lead to bigger things later. This is where BRACE has often played a key role.

With this sort of partnership between large and small, public and voluntary, there is more reason that ever to believe that we will eventually defeat Alzheimer’s.

We're here because Alzheimer's hurts

Sometimes you find a few words, however brief, which go straight to the pain that underlies what we do. Let’s face it, we’re here because dementia is a cause of profound suffering to millions of people.

I found a reminder – not that I needed one – in an article in The Independent called The Listening Project. It’s about a BBC programme, but the fourth paragraph concerns a conversation between a husband and wife who are about to be torn apart by Alzheimer’s.

I defy you to read it without being moved.

Send in the bouncers

We are being supported by some very committed and enthusiastic medical students this year. They are the Medical Science Society at the University of the West of England (UWE).

On Saturday, they will start a 24 hour bounce for BRACE. This involves a succession of students taking it in turns on a bouncy castle at UWE’s Fishponds site. They hope to set a new record.

I hope their digestive systems will take it, and I honour the sacrifice made by at least one of them who had hoped to be watching the rugby on TV.  Most of all I hope they have a great time.

If you want to support them (and you’re in the UK) you can send £5 by text. Just text the message JUMP24 £5 to 70070 and BRACE will get the full donation.

Why we need the money

We haven’t done badly, let’s face it. £12 million over 24 years is a worthwhile contribution to fighting Alzheimer’s.

However, when you see the need – 36 million sufferers worldwide – you know why so much more is needed and quickly.

There is also a more positive reason for wanting to ratchet up the fundraising this year. I have been looking at the research proposals that two universities want us to fund. I can’t help but feel excited when I see the remarkable progress that a scientist is already making with BRACE funding. She needs more resources to develop the research further. Then there are proposals to trial a new treatment or explore better ways of diagnosing dementia.

Seeing the potential in these very exciting plans is all the motivation we need. Not making them happen is just unthinkable! That’s why we need myriad supporters, all playing their part in raising the funds to provide the resources. This year has started brilliantly and I believe we are going to get there.