Unfortunately every single one of us will experience dementia at some point, whether through a spouse, family member, friend or colleague. 

As a society we are living longer than ever before and with medical advancements keeping our bodies going until we’re well into our seventies, eighties, even nineties, diagnoses of dementia are becoming ever more common. The statistics are truly frightening; every three minutes someone in the UK develops dementia; there are currently 850,000 people suffering from dementia in the UK and that number is predicted to rise exponentially over the next ten years. 

In sharp contrast to this, despite the staggering numbers of people
affected and the massive cost to the UK economy, there is no cure, no way of preventing the disease and very little systematic research into this devastating illness.

The Insurance United Against Dementia (IUAD) campaign is bringing together senior leaders in the insurance sector to drive awareness of dementia and to raise £10 million to support pioneering research programmes into the treatment and cure of the condition.  Working in partnership with the Alzheimer's Society, IUAD will support the UK Dementia Research Institute, Dementia Research Leaders and Brains for Dementia Research and hopes to make businesses become more dementia-friendly, better supporting their people and customers.

On 16th September, I will be joining an intrepid team of insurance industry pros to embark on the Mont Blanc Massif; an epic three-day trek in the Alps . This is no luxury camping trip, there will be no hotels, this is three full days of walking, sleeping in dormitories and (probably) blisters… this is InsureTrek18