Huge donation will help dementia charity in Twyford

A Twyford charity and a team of running enthusiasts ‘danced until midnight’ recently to celebrate almost £15,000 being raised for dementia training and support.

Reading Roadrunners and Understanding Dementia got together at the running club’s awards evening where a cheque for £14,036.20 was presented from a year-long fundraiser.

The group nominated Understanding Dementia as their charity of the year in early 2023 and across the twelve months took on a variety of events and activities which included sponsored runs, cake sales, quiz nights, a barn dance and a bingo night.

Collecting the cheque at the Penta Hotel evening was the charity’s founder, CEO and lead trainer, Shirley Pearce, who said: “Reading Roadrunners have truly gone the extra mile for us and we can’t thank Liz Atkinson and all the members enough.

“This fantastic amount will be a tremendous support to our work and we will use the funds to set up a base for our Train the Trainer programme. If any other local businesses or organisations are interested in making us their charity of the year, we would love to hear from them.”

Understanding Dementia offers free training and support for family and friends dementia carers, whether they are supporting someone within their home or from a distance, and regardless of whether they yet have a dementia diagnosis. It also offers paid-for training for health and care professionals.

The charity’s next fundraiser, a Barn Dance, will take place at Loddon Hall on May 18. Tickets are on sale now.

www.understandingdementia.co.uk