THE Alzheimer’s Society is urging people to come together against dementia this week.

The theme of this year’s Dementia Awareness Week is uniting against dementia - to volunteer, donate and campaign for change to help find a cure, improve care and offer help and understanding.

Dementia Awareness Week (running until May 20) involves people affected by dementia joining staff and volunteers from the Alzheimer’s Society’s Bradford branch in a range of fun activities raising funds and awareness of the condition that is touching increasing numbers of people.

Today, at Carlisle Business Centre, there’s a free event for community, arts and sports organisations from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm. The event is aimed at giving organisations from across the district the opportunity to hear about and discuss ways of fully involving members affected by dementia, including carers

Tomorrow sees an event called Flower Power at the National Space and Media Museum from 10am to 4pm, giving visitors chance to prepare to plant their own Forget me Not seeds, make a badge and join in a collaborative art display. There will also be Dementia Friends sessions open to the public at 11am to 12 noon and 1pm to 2pm, and an information stall will be available all day, with advisors and people affected by dementia on hand to chat.

Also tomorrow, the Big City Park Extravaganza at Bradford’s City Park from 10am to 3pm offers the chance to learn more about dementia and memory problems in a fun-filled, family atmosphere, with fancy dress, face-painting and goodie bags.

And the Dementia Dab Challenge urges everyone to embrace the “dab dance” craze hallenge and post images of themselves doing the move. The aim, says the charity, is to go viral. The Dementia Dab Challenge was launched last week at Keighley Cougars, and runs until Saturday.

Paul Smithson, the Alzheimer’s Society Services Manager for Bradford, said: “We are pleased to offer a number of different events this year. We especially want to engage leisure and community groups to find out how they can better support their members who are affected by dementia so they can continue to take part in the activities they enjoy.

“There are also a number of fun information events run by people affected by dementia and volunteers that we encourage people to attend.

“We’re calling on people across the area to show their support at of these and the many other events taking place this Dementia Awareness Week."

Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 850,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, and there are nearly 6,000 people living with the condition in the Bradford district. By 2021, 1 million people will be living with the condition - this will soar to two million by 2051.

Dementia deaths are rising year on year and 225,000 will develop dementia this year - that’s one every three minutes.

Dementia costs the UK economy over £26 billion per year; the equivalent of more than £30,000 per person with dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Society provides information and support, researches and campaign to improve care and create lasting change for people affected by dementia.

There will be more family fun this summer, at the Bradford Memory Walk supporting the Alzheimer's Society.

The walk was revived years ago Christine Gilliver - whose husband, former Bradford City player Alan "Gilly" Gilliver has dementia.

Christine is holding another Memory Walk, at Lister Park, Manningham, on Sunday, September 10. Registration is from 10am and the walk starts at 11am.

More than 200 people took part in last year's Bradford Memory Walk, with Bradford City manager Stuart McCall cutting the ribbon. Participants, who included people with dementia and their families and friends, did between one and four one-mile laps of Lister Park.

* For more information about Dementia Awareness Week events and Memory Walks go to alzheimers.org.uk

* For more about the Alzheimer’s Society call 0300 222 1122 or visit alzheimers.org.uk/DAW