Plymouth City Council and Local Residents Raise Over £21,000 for Memory Matters Foundation

Plymouth's Lord Mayor, Alderman Chris Mavin, has led a group of dedicated fundraisers known as the Centurions to raise over £21,000 for the Plymouth-based charity, Memory Matters Foundation, in the past year. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Centurions have organized a range of sponsored activities, including a wheelchair half marathon, cycling, running, and giving up alcohol, crisps, or chocolates, as well as cake sales and raffles. The funds raised will support the charity's efforts to provide compassionate support, therapies, and peer-led activities for people affected by dementia in the city.

Key Takeaways:

• Over £21,000 has been raised for the Memory Matters Foundation in the past year, thanks to the efforts of the Centurions, a group of dedicated fundraisers led by Lord Mayor Alderman Chris Mavin.
• The charity offers vital support to people and families living with dementia, and the funds raised will help to provide compassionate support, therapies, and peer-led activities.
• Memory Matters was founded in 2010 by two nurses, Laura Walker and Kate Smith, who wanted to ensure there was more support for people affected by dementia across the city.
• The charity's Moments Cafe in Plymouth City Centre offers advice and support to anyone free of charge, and last year 386 people received on-the-spot support.
• An estimated one in four coronavirus deaths have been people with dementia, and the ongoing social isolation has made the day-to-day management of dementia much more difficult.

Statistics:

• £21,000 has been raised for Memory Matters Foundation in the past year.
• 386 people received on-the-spot support at the charity's Moments Cafe last year.
• An estimated one in four coronavirus deaths have been people with dementia.
• 25% of people living with dementia reported a negative impact on their mental health due to the pandemic (reported by the Alzheimer's Society).

Sources:

• Plymouth City Council's news release.
• Alzheimer's Society reports on the impact of the pandemic on people living with dementia.