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The battle against dementia has received a huge boost from the insurance industry.
More than 35 firms united to raise in excess of £50,000 towards research as part of the first Insurance Day of Giving last week. Whether it was through bake sales, dress down days, lunch events or raffles, firms sent their senior teams to the floor in an effort to raise funds for the issue that currently impacts 850,000 in the UK alone.
“When we first came up with the concept of an industry Day of Giving, I had no idea that it would take off like this,” said Andy Tedstone, PIB Insurance and Insurance United Against Dementia board member. “It has been both inspiring and humbling to see colleagues from all reaches of the sector making the time to raise funds and awareness for this important cause.
“It just goes to show that when our industry unites, we really can effect positive change. Thanks to everyone’s extraordinary efforts, we will be able to put more scientists behind desks, moving us closer to treatments and a cure for dementia.”
The cause has had a particularly strong impact on Adam Reed, global client relationships director at Willis Towers Watson, whose father was diagnosed with dementia 18 months ago.
“Together and as an industry, we are making a difference to beat a condition which can devastate lives,” he said. “Sadly, while it may be too late for my father to benefit from new breakthroughs in research, the incredible work to find new treatments and a cure and the work that the sector is doing to unite against dementia will help so many others in future.”
The money raised through the Day of Giving will go towards the ground-breaking UK Dementia Research Institute, co-founded and funded by Alzheimer’s Society, which had its official opening earlier this year.
