Sunshine through the clouds...

[martinlivings]

My father suffers from dementia. Every day he slips away a little more, and we see him a little less. There are still occasions when he's quite lucid, like the clouds have parted and allowed the sun to shine through. But they're getting fewer, shorter, and farther between.

Terry Pratchett was recently diagnosed with a rare early-onset form of Alzheimer's. He is dealing with it in his usual way, with a sardonic sense of humour. And putting his money where his mouth is, by donating a million dollars to Alzheimer's Research in the UK. And Pat Cadigan has dared the SF community to match that.

In our aging population, Alzheimer's is now as common as cancer. Equal numbers of people are affected by both, but in the UK, Alzheimer's research gets 3% of the funding that cancer research receives. It needs more.

I'm going to do my tiny bit this year at Swancon. I've asked if I can put a money tin on the front desk for members to put their spare change in. This money will be donated to the Hazel Hawke Alzheimer's Research & Care Fund here in Australia, in Terry's and Swancon's name. I'm hoping con-goers will think of Terry, who has been a guest of Swancon twice in the past (if I remember correctly!), and give as generously as they can manage.

Let's see if small change can generate big change.

Comments

[catsparx.livejournal.com]

Goodonya Martin. I'll put some $$ in the tin.

[angriest.livejournal.com]

Terry was the Guest of Honour at Swancon 18.

It's terrible they don't research enough into this stuff, because there's evidence to suggest that once they cure one out of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis, they're possibly going to be able to cure all three.

[splanky.livejournal.com]

Good call. I was going to donate via the link on anonymousclaire, but if you have a tin out at Swancon it will be that much easier.

[karloffsbrow.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear of the pain that your father and you and your family must be going through, but utilising that pain to make a positive change for other is a noble act. We'll definitely have some money to drop into your tin at the Con.

[kathrynlinge.livejournal.com]

This is a lovely idea. I'll be bringing all my spare change :-)

[possbert.livejournal.com]

I saw an interview with Pterry on Sky News UK this morning. It seems that Alzheimer's is considered just a part of aging, which is why little research money goes into it.

[martinlivings.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Or that sufferers are going to die of old age anyway, so why bother curing them?

[azhure.livejournal.com]

Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are horrific. I've watched two family members battle with Alzheimer's - my great uncle (who went down the violent path - not fun) and my maternal grandmother, who was so sweet and lost the whole time. She spent ten years not knowing who anyone was or where she was most of the time.

My heart goes out to you having to watch your father slip away slowly.

Whether I get to Swancon or not, I'll be donating.