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The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is pleased to announce Miss Cork City Rachel Lynn O’Leary as their latest ambassador; O’Leary urges participants to register for their Tea Day pack by noon on April 28th. 

• Sign up on teaday.ie 

With only two weeks left until Alzheimer’s Tea Day 2023, Miss Cork City Rachel Lynn O’Leary is encouraging Cork to support The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s annual Alzheimer’s Tea Day campaign, to help raise awareness and funds for dementia supports and services. O’Leary’s grandparents, on her mother’s side, live with dementia.

Alzheimer’s Tea Day is an annual event held on the first Thursday in May, which brings people together over a cup of tea to raise funds and awareness for dementia, which affects over 64,000 people in Ireland. The campaign, which takes place on Thursday, May 4th,  is The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s (The ASI) biggest fundraising event of the year.

Crowned Miss Cork City 2023 earlier this month, O’Leary will be one of Cork’s representatives in the Miss Ireland competition later this year. O’Leary has teamed up with The ASI to help other families in Ireland impacted by dementia. 

Miss Cork City, Rachel Lynn O’Leary said: 

“I’m so pleased to support Alzheimer’s Tea Day. I’ve seen first-hand the difficulties families face when a loved one has dementia. Alzheimer’s Tea Day is vital for fundraising and awareness; the campaign helps The Alzheimer Society of Ireland continue to support people living with dementia in Cork and across Ireland and also encourages people to find out more information and seek help. I hope everyone will sign up for a Tea Day pack and join me in supporting Tea Day on Thursday, May 4th.”

Traditional Tea Day events in the past have raised €500,000. The ASI hopes to continue rebuilding Tea Day and, this year, raise €300,000.

With only one week left to get Alzheimer’s Tea Day packs in time for Thursday, May 4th, The ASI Fundraising Team is working to ensure that all Tea Day Participants get their packs. However, those who receive them after May 4th can still host a Tea Day at a later date. 

Mairead Dillon, Head of Fundraising at The ASI, said: 

“We’re so grateful to Miss Cork City Rachel Lynn O’Leary for supporting our annual Alzheimer’s Tea Day campaign, and we thank her for sharing her personal experience. My team is hard at work at getting the Tea Day packs ready for our participants. We truly appreciate everyone who has registered so far. Time is ticking for people to get their packs before May 4th, and I’d strongly encourage people to register for their free packs by noon on April 28th.” 

TV Stars and Ambassadors Bryan Murray and Una Crawford-O’Brien also joined the Tea Day campaign this year. Bryan and Una have lived experience of Alzheimer’s Disease – Bryan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease over three years ago – and they’re calling on everyone to join in and help make a difference. 

People can host tea parties, sell tea and cakes, or simply make a donation. Funds raised will support vital services, such as The ASI’s National Helpline, Dementia Advisers, Family Carer Training,  Care, and Support Groups. 

An estimated 7,509 people are living with dementia in Cork, and the number of people living with dementia is expected to double by 2050. That’s why events like Alzheimer’s Tea Day are so important to help raise funds and awareness and support people affected by this disease.

So, with only two weeks left until Alzheimer’s Tea Day, there’s no time to waste! Join in, host a tea party, or simply donate. Every little bit counts, and together we can make a real difference in the fight against dementia. 

For more information on how to get involved or make a donation, visit teaday.ie. 

About The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI):

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is the leading dementia-specific service provider in Ireland. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland works across the country in the heart of local communities providing dementia-specific services and supports and advocating for the rights and needs of all people living with dementia and their carers. Our vision is an Ireland where people on the journey of dementia are valued and supported. A national non-profit organisation, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland advocates, empowers and champions the rights of people living with dementia and their communities to quality support and services. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland also operates the Alzheimer National Helpline offering information and support to anyone affected by dementia on 1800 341 341.

Alzheimer National Helpline:

For more information on our supports and services during this challenging time, please contact The Alzheimer Society of Ireland National Helpline. The Helpline is open six days a week, Monday to Friday, 10 am – 5 pm and Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm, on 1800 341 341. Email at [email protected] or via Live Chat at www.alzheimer.ie

ABOUT DEMENTIA

• There are 64,000 people with dementia in Ireland, and the number of people with the condition will double in the next 25 years to over 150,000 by 2045.*
• There are 11,000 new cases of dementia in Ireland each year. That’s at least 30 people every day, and anyone can get dementia – even people in their 30s/40s/50s.**
• Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of conditions that cause brain changes and damage.
• Dementia is progressive. There is currently no cure. Dementia is not simply a health issue but a social one requiring a community response.
• Most people with dementia (63%) live at home in the community. Over 180,000 people in Ireland are or have been carers for a family member or partner with dementia, with many more providing support and care in other ways.
• 1 in 10 people diagnosed with dementia in Ireland is under 65.
• The overall cost of dementia care in Ireland is just over €1.69 billion per annum; 48% of this is attributable to family care; 43% is by residential care; formal health and social care services contribute only 9% to the total cost.

*Figures referenced by Cahill, S. & Pierce, M. (2013) The Prevalence of Dementia in Ireland

*Figure referenced from Alzheimer Europe (2020) Dementia in Europe Yearbook 2019 ‘Estimating the prevalence of dementia in Europe’

**Figure referenced from Pierce, T., O’Shea, E. and Carney P. (2018) Estimates of the prevalence, incidence and severity of dementia in Ireland.