A memory walk around Media City has raised almost £100,000 for leading UK dementia charity Alzheimer’s Society.

Nearly 1,000 fundraisers took part in the Glow Walk around Salford Quays earlier this year.

Event lead Kay Rodgers said: “The majority of fundraising has now been paid in for the Manchester Glow and I’m pleased to tell you that the event has raised an amazing £98,300.”

Kay said this is the highest total raised at any of the Glow walks, and that the charity is hoping to raise a total of £400,000 across its 2022 Glow events.

The 4.5k route around Salford Quays was lit up by hundreds of participants wearing blue shirts and bright accessories, from neon tutus, to face glitter, to glowsticks; there were even a few dogs in glowing collars for the occasion.

Crowds gather at the start line

Events fundraising officer Ellie Coleman said: “It means so much that everyone here is here because they have a connection to something.”

Many attendees wrote the names of the people they were walking for on their shirts, showing their support for parents, grandparents, partners, friends, and others affected by dementia. There was also an opportunity to hang messages on the Memory Tree – a tribute to those lost to or suffering from the disease that stood in the middle of the Piazza.

A message hung on the Memory Tree

This year’s event in Salford was one of nine Glow events taking place around the country this year.

Kay said: “We started in 2018, but of course missed 2021 due to the pandemic, so we’re really pleased to be able to return this year.”

Participants joined in with a samba style warm-up

Each participant was encouraged to aim to raise £160, with many exceeding that suggestion, leading to the record-breaking total raised by the event.

Alzheimer’s Society will use the money raised to help those affected by dementia, through face-to-face, telephone, and virtual support services including their Dementia Connect support line, which Kay said has “been a lifeline to thousands”.

Kay said: “The funds raised will also help support research into how to better dementia care, improve diagnosis, and understand risk factors so we can find ways to prevent the condition.”

If you or anyone you know has been affected by dementia, you would like to find out more, or you would like to get involved in a future fundraiser, more information can be found on Alzheimer’s Society’s website: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *