Daithi and Niamh launch tea day for Alzheimer Society
RTÉ star, Dáithí Ó’Sé, enjoyed afternoon tea with reigning Miss Ireland Niamh Kennedy on board the Vintage Tea Tour Bus in Dublin to mark the launch of Alzheimer’s Tea Day.
Alzheimer’s Tea Day, which is held on May 4th is the largest annual fundraising campaign in The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s (ASI) calendar and is sponsored for the second year running by Medtronic.
Medtronic is a global leader in medical technology, services and solutions. Its Healthy Communities Fund was established in 2015 to encourage and support innovative ideas and projects to improve health at the community level, especially for people who have been traditionally at risk for chronic diseases, or are challenged in accessing existing healthcare services.
Since the very first Alzheimer’s Tea Day in 1994 over €7.5M has been raised to provide essential support to the 34,650 Women and 19,800 Men living with dementia in Ireland today. Every year thousands of people host tea parties in their homes, offices and schools. This year we’re asking you to join them, all funds raised locally stay locally.
The ASI is the national leader in advocating for and providing dementia-specific supports and services. Each year it provides more than one million hours of community-based dementia-specific care throughout Ireland.
There is nothing we Irish love more than sharing a cup of tea with friends and families, where the problems of the day are tackled. With 1 in 2 people in Ireland knowing someone who has been diagnosed with dementia, calling round for a cup of tea is also a great way to bring a little light into the day of someone who may be isolated.
Dáithí Ó’Sé said: 'I'm delighted to support Alzheimer’s Tea Day again this year. There's 55,000 people living with dementia in Ireland today so that's 55,000 good reasons to get the kettle on. What alarms me is that this number is set to double in the next 20 years. By taking part in this campaign you are helping to raise vital funds and awareness of a condition that is affecting so many of our family, friends and neighbours.'
Niamh Kennedy added: 'I am thrilled to be involved with the Alzheimer's Tea Day campaign this year. This is a day which has been marked in my memory since childhood. The ASI is such an amazing charity that has done so much to support my family throughout my Dad's illness. I feel Dementia has touched all of us in some way and we need to raise more awareness and funds to help better support the patients suffering. So, put that kettle on.'
Bronwyn Brophy, Vice President EMEA, Early Technologies with Medtronic said: “Medtronic is proud to support the Alzheimer Tea Day campaign, which has played a significant role over many years in boosting public awareness of the disease. Tea Day is supported through the Medtronic Healthy Communities Fund, which promotes healthcare and well-being in communities, in line with the Government’s ‘Healthy Ireland’ framework. Our partnership is enhanced by the support of our Irish employees who have dedicated much time and energy to a cause close to the hearts of many families in the communities where we operate.”
CEO of the ASI Pat McLoughlin said: “Last year Alzheimer’s Tea Day raised €470,000, thanks to our wonderful Tea Day hosts and all those who attended and supported events around the country. We’re delighted that Medtronic are with us again this year as their support has been vital. The money this campaign has generated has made a real and lasting difference to the lives of people in local communities living with dementia as all funds raised by Alzheimer’s Tea Day locally stay local and help to support vital lifelines across our range of services including Day Care, Home Care, Family Carer Training and Dementia Advisers. 1 in 2 of us knows someone who has been diagnosed with dementia that could be your mother, father, uncle, aunt, sibling or friend.”