Words by Smiley Team
Do you ever dream of wandering into work (or, onto the work Zoom call) in your pyjamas without your colleagues batting an eye? If so, this Thursday is your chance to do just that while raising vital funds for dementia research charity Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Across the country, friends, family and workers at home, in offices, and even laboratories, are expected to join the charity this Thursday for their Christmas pyjama party.
Mariel Kirton whose dad Ray is living with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease, will join the fundraiser. “My dad Ray has always loved Christmas," she said. "Following his diagnosis of young-onset Alzheimer’s disease at 52, he continued to keep up our usual family traditions, from picking and decorating our Christmas tree to wearing novelty Christmas hats.
“Making new memories and protecting Christmas traditions is so important and I believe dementia research is the key to protecting those things, so I hope everyone will help support research by taking part in Christmas Pyjama Day.”
Every participant is assigned their personalised JustGiving page to collect donations and is asked to donate £3 themselves for taking part. All the funds will go towards research into treatments and cures for dementia.
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Dr Emily Maguire, from the UK Dementia Research Institute, is supporting the campaign along with fellow researchers at Cardiff University. "Most of us do, have, or will feel the devastating impact of dementia at some point in our lives, whether directly or through its effects on friends and family," she said.
"Scientific research has allowed us to treat and even cure many other diseases, and I believe that with determination the same will be true one day of dementia. Progress towards a dementia-free world depends on continued support from charities like Alzheimer’s Research UK and their amazing supporters taking part in events like the Christmas Pyjama Day.”
Already the charity is impressed with the number of people who have signed up, with their fundraising officer saying: “We’d like to thank everyone who’s already signed up to throw on their pyjamas for the day and donate to life-changing dementia research. Not only will you be having fun while supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK, but you’ll also be helping us change the future for families like Mariel’s.”
However, they still hope many more people will join the party and contribute to fundraising efforts.
To join Alzheimer’s Research UK’s pyjama day visit alzres.uk/pyjama-day.
