West Berkshire Crematorium makes £120,000 pledge to Dementia UK for World Alzheimer’s month

West Berkshire Crematorium has made a large pledge to Dementia UK for World Alzheimer’s Month.

The crematorium, just off the A4 Bath Road in Thatcham, has chosen Dementia UK as its corporate charity partner.

It aims to raise a minimum of £120,000 to support the specialist dementia nursing charity’s work.

One in two people will be affected by dementia in their lifetime, either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it themselves, or both.

There are more than 200 different types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being one of the most common forms.

Crematorium owner Westerleigh Group will make a donation for every memorial purchase made over a six-week period beginning Monday.

Anyone making a purchase during this period between September 4 and October 15 will trigger a donation which comes at no extra cost to the customer.

For memorial purchases up to the value of £500, a £50 donation will be made.

For purchases between £500.01 and £1,500, a £100 donation will be made.

And for purchases of £1,500.01 and above, a £200 donation will be made.

West Berkshire Crematorium manager Stephanie Langford said: “A £50 donation could cover the telephone costs of 17 family carers calling Dementia UK’s free national helpline for support.

“We’re proud of our commitment to providing exceptional care to the bereaved and their loved ones but our care goes much further than that.

“We also care deeply about the wider communities that surround all our crematoria and dementia is something that affects families all over the UK.”

The money will be donated from the crematorium’s metal recycling scheme.

The crematorium says that with the consent of families, metals recovered during cremation are recycled.

And any money raised is used to support charities and other worthy causes which make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Dementia UK director of fundraising and engagement Martin Bishop said: “We are so grateful to Westerleigh Group for making this donation pledge for World Alzheimer’s Month

“Every three minutes, someone in the UK develops dementia which is a progressive and complex condition that can be devastating for the whole family.

“It can be exhausting and overwhelming, not only for the person with dementia, but also for the people caring for them and their wider family and friends.”

He added: “Through the money raised, more families than ever will be able to access the life-changing support offered by our Admiral Nurses and Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline.”