Putney MP To Trek 26 Miles for Alzheimer's Society


Fleur Anderson raises the issue of dementia care in Queen's Speech Debate

Fleur Anderson MP is in training for her 26 mile trek
Fleur Anderson MP is in training for her 26 mile trek

Putney MP Fleur Anderson is to take part in a 26 mile walk to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society after deciding to do it in what she describes as ‘an over-enthusiastic moment’.

The 26 mile walk will take place on Saturday 5 June, setting off from Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. People can support her by donating to the Alzheimer’s Society or visiting her Just Giving page.

Ms Anderson said, “In what now seems an over-enthusiastic moment I signed up for the Alzheimer’s Society 26 mile trek on 5th June.

“It will be a big challenge, but it’s such a good cause. We need to find a cure for dementia, and help the Society to provide support for people with dementia and their carers.

There are currently 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, and that number is set to grow to over a million in the next five years. Before the pandemic, there were 1628 individual older people in Putney with unmet social care needs.

The Conservative Party manifesto in 2019 committed to delivering Operation Dementia Moonshot, which would double funding for dementia research for each of the next 10 years. This pledge is yet to be realised.

Speaking in the Queen’s Speech Debate this Wednesday (19 May), the Labour MP said, “Since the Prime Minister’s first day in office, dementia victims and their families have paid a staggering £14 billion for social care. The Prime Minister and the Government has let down every single one of those families.

“Even before the pandemic there were 1628 individual older people in Putney with unmet social care needs.

“We need a national social care system that is joined up with the NHS, and we need the much promised Operation Dementia Moonshot.

“Without life-changing treatments, the number of people with dementia is set to grow to over a million in the next five years.

“So no more empty promises, no more leaving families struggling and despairing. We need a clear, budgeted plan for social care reform, complete with milestones and reform happening this year.

“These reforms must improve access to care, quality of care and better working conditions for care workers.”

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May 21, 2021