Employees raise more than £3,800 for dementia research

The team at DHL Supply Chain, based on the McKinney Industrial Estate in Newtownabbey, have raised £3,800 from a variety of fundraising activities throughout 2017 with a further £600 in match funding from the DHL UK Foundation for the UK’s leading dementia research charity.

Alzheimer’s Research UK was chosen by staff in their annual vote for a charity of the year and they packed the calendar full of fundraising events from weekly football golden goal draws to activities on key dates in the calendar including Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day and Easter.

The team also held monthly food events where they provided a cooked breakfast for people and made homemade stew to sell at work, hosted cake sales and even completed a 5km walk from their local leisure centre on World Safety Day in April.

Their fundraising activities culminated in a ’12 days of Christmas’ fundraiser with a festive raffle taking place each day.

Catherine Shaw, who sits on the branch’s charity committee which organised the fundraising activities, said: “We were delighted to support Alzheimer’s Research UK as dementia is something that is affecting more and more of us as we get older and live longer.

“I personally know someone who is affected by this and I am passionate about raising funds for such a worthwhile cause.”

Supporters like the DHL team in Newtownabbey are helping to fund vital research across the UK.

More than £723,000 has already been invested in 15 dementia research projects at leading institutions across Northern Ireland.

The charity’s Northern Ireland Network Centre unites dementia researchers across Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University.

Scientists here are engaged in a wide range of clinical and non-clinical research, including exploring the potential of chemical ‘fingerprints’ in blood to help diagnose dementia earlier.

Matt Clarke, Alzheimer’s Research UK Fundraising Officer for Northern Ireland, said: “We are so grateful that staff at the DHL Supply Chain in Newtownabbey chose to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK to help fund pioneering research. The money they raised will help scientists make new discoveries and increase awareness around dementia.

“Our vision at Alzheimer’s Research UK is a world free from the fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia and our supporters are key to helping us bring about the first life-changing dementia treatment by 2025.”

If you would like to support the work of Alzheimer’s Research UK by making them charity of the year, setting up a fundraising group or hosting an event, contact Matt on 07584 657 587 or email [email protected]

For further information about Alzheimer’s Research UK visit www.alzheimersresearchuk.org