Sophie Leggett
Fundraising for a Centre for Rare Dementia Support
Fundraising for The National Brain Appeal
Story
Team story
This page is set up to continue our fundraising for the Rare Dementia Centre from our Odd Squad Road Trip
The 'offline' money raised is the amount that we received on our original Virgin Money Giving page which will no longer exist due to Virgin Money Giving closing on 30th November.
We are so close to achieving our £5,500 goal and we won't give up until we achieve it so pleeeeaaase if you haven't donated yet please do as our combined brains need a rest from thinking about Alzheimers!
We are The Odd Squad - Mel & Ali, Suzy, Sophie & Chris and together with our Dog Squad (Alf & Harley) we are going on a road trip around the UK to make fabulous memories whilst we can.
Sophie & Ali both carry a rare gene mutation that causes Alzheimer's at a young age (Familial Alzheimer's Disease). Ali probably had subtle symptoms from his early 40's and was diagnosed 2 years ago at the age of 47. Sophie has probable subtle symptoms now at the age of 45.
If you would like to understand more about how Familial Alzheimers Disease affects people you can watch Sophie's chat with the very wonderful Prof. Nick Fox which was part of the BNA Festival of Neuroscience earlier this year
After covid made seeing friends and family and travelling more difficult this is our chance to make some wonderful memories and visit friends and family along the way and hopefully have a brilliant time.
We aim to use this trip to raise awareness of Rare Dementia Support who have done so much to support our family and raise money for the planned Rare Dementia Centre which will be the first of it's kind in the world!
There will be challenges along the way.
Real challenges like one of our vehicles breaking down or the bus getting stuck on a narrow road and planned challenges where you will get the chance to pick daft tasks for us to complete along our route.
Your donations will go 90% to the Rare Dementia Centre (a fund administered by the National Brain Appeal and 10% to the wonderful charity Purple Heart Wishes who grant wishes for adults with a terminal diagnosis and have kindly contributed to some of the costs that Mel & Ali will incur on the road trip. They are a truly lovely small team who have made so many dreams come true over the years.
The National Brain Appeal's campaign to establish the world's first Centre for Rare Dementia Support.The National Brain Appeal has supported Rare Dementia Support (RDS) since the first meetings in 1994. RDS runs regular, specialist support groups, in London and regionally, provides newsletters, contact networks and an digital platform with access to information and advice for people living with or at risk of inherited, atypical and young onset dementias. Our vision is to support all these people by substantially expanding RDS.Please help The National Brain Appeal reach the first £250,000 towards this campaign to create the world's first centre of excellence for rarer dementias.The Rare Dementia Support Centre will exemplify how best to support those living with a rare dementia, through the involvement of its members and visitors in research and will lead in the bespoke education of families, healthcare and other relevant professionals.
