THE ALZHEIMER’S Society is calling on people in the West Midlands to wear a Forget Me Not badge in support of its inaugural appeal.
TV journalist, writer and presenter Angela Rippon has shared a treasured memory that she never wants to forget as part of the Forget Me Not appeal, which runs throughout June.
Angela, renowned for presenting scores of TV programmes including BBC’s Nine O’clock News and currently Rip Off Britain, has shared the amusing and heart-warming tale of the time she met the Queen, and her friend broke royal protocol.
Talking in a video she said: “My favourite memory of the Queen is at the Windsor Horse Show when an American friend of mine broke protocol, instigating a conversation with her.”
“My friend instigated a conversation with the Queen and said ‘Your Majesty I saw you this morning with the horse drawn carriages’. It was wonderful to see the Queen’s face light up.
“It was ‘wind her up and let her go’, she couldn’t stop talking about something which is a passion of hers.
“She told us everything she knew about the horses, carriages, training and the joy and exhilaration of competing.
“It was lovely to see the Queen being herself and talking with genuine knowledge, enthusiasm and pleasure about something.”
People in the West Midlands can get involved in the appeal by visiting the Forget Me Not Collection at Cathedral Park Birmingham, and Solihull Town Centre on June 24 or at Birmingham New Street Station on June 25.
Hazel Bayley, Alzheimer’s Society West Midlands services manager, said: “For too long, people affected by dementia have felt forgotten.
“They feel forgotten by the wider public, who don’t always understand the huge challenges that come with dementia.
“They feel forgotten by research, where breakthroughs seem to come hard and fast for other conditions, while people living with dementia are left waiting, and they feel forgotten by a care system that fails to provide the help and support they desperately need.
“That is why we’re encouraging the people of the West Midlands to show their support to the over 84,000 people currently living in the West Midlands with dementia.
“We urgently need to find a cure, improve care and offer help and understanding for people affected.
“By wearing a Forget Me Not badge this June you will be showing people affected by dementia that you understand, you are with them, and you are helping to fund life-changing support.”
In addition to wearing the badge, there are many other ways to support the appeal.
Find out more about the appeal and the other ways you can get involved click here.
