Martin Livings

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.