This considerable amount was achieved by an engaging and varied programme of fundraising activity, ranging from scary bake sales at Halloween to hosting a successful quiz night; supporting the ubiquitous Chariots of Fire run in Cambridge and even a sponsored mile swim in The Serpentine.
The Cambridge prides itself on uniting branch staff and head office staff together for charity and this was epitomised by the launch of Tour De Branch – a tough 112-mile cycle ride around all 13 branches. For the less experienced cyclist a mini version of 30 or 60 miles was offered.
The highlight of the three months was World Alzheimer’s Day on 21st September when staff really took this cause to heart. Throughout the day staff were encouraged to try a virtual reality experience to give them an insight into dementia.
A Walk Through Dementia is a unique Google cardboard app designed to put you in the shoes of someone living with dementia. The virtual reality experience recreates what people might see and how they might feel. This of course is a great aid for family and friends of people with dementia as it clearly demonstrates frustrations and challenges through simulating some of the symptoms people experience. This gave greater insight and understanding into this condition and was a revelation to all who tried it.
Charlotte Richardson Product Specialist and Cambridge Building Society fundraising Team Leader comments that: “Finding a cure to dementia is close to my heart as my grandad died from Alzheimer’s and anyone who has helped support a family member will know how horrible the disease is and how tough it is for everyone affected. I’m over the moon with how much we’ve raised. I think having a varied and engaging bunch of activities, alongside such a worthwhile cause definitely helped us raise this incredible amount.”
Jessica Sayer, Regional Fundraising Officer at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: “It’s been a real pleasure to be partnered with The Cambridge Building Society and we’re so impressed by how much the team have raised in such a short amount of time. They’ve really got stuck in and have shown lots of enthusiasm for dementia research. With 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia today, it’s vital that we do everything we can to bring an end to the fear, harm and heartbreak it causes. We’re incredibly grateful to have the support of The Cambridge Building Society in the fightback against dementia.”
The 2017 Community Partnership Programme concludes the end of January 2018. The current partner is East Anglia Children’s Hospice (EACH) and then the team begins 2018 in February with Wintercomfort for the Homeless.