The National Brain Appeal’s fundraising campaign to enable the creation of the world’s first Rare Dementia Support Centre has received an incredible boost from Iceland. A coordinated effort by Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation (IFCF) and Iceland Foods stores has raised £1,111,205 towards the state-of-the-art centre of excellence in London supporting those living with inherited, atypical and young-onset dementias and their families.
Iceland Foods’ Executive Chairman Richard Walker spearheaded the campaign to raise funds by summiting Mount Everest on behalf of the IFCF in May 2023. Colleagues from Iceland Foods and the Food Warehouse stores across the country then took part in a range of fundraising activities in store to support people living with rare dementias. Fundraising activities included hiking their own version of Everest up mountains across the UK, running, cycling, skydiving, bake sales, dressing up and singing all in aid of The National Brain Appeal.
Richard Walker teamed up with world leading mountaineer Kenton Cool to summit Everest in just three weeks. He took on the challenge in memory of his late mum, Lady Walker – who named and built Iceland Foods alongside Richard’s father, Sir Malcolm Walker. She was diagnosed with a rare dementia, young-onset Alzheimer’s disease, over a decade ago.
The Rare Dementia Support Centre, part of the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, will be the first of its kind in the world. It will be a global exemplar of how best to support those living with a rare dementia, blending lived and professional experience in a welcoming, informal environment with a kitchen table at its heart. The centre will lead in the provision of education on rare dementias for families, as well as healthcare and other relevant professionals.
For many years, The National Brain Appeal has been the main funder of Rare Dementia Support, a service that provides specialist social, emotional and practical support for thousands of individuals living with, or affected by, a rare dementia diagnosis. The charity has also raised funds for research projects into rarer forms of dementia.
Richard Walker, executive chairman of Iceland Foods said: “Dementia support is something that is incredibly close to my heart. The Rare Dementia Support Centre will be an invaluable resource for those affected by all kinds of dementia, including family and friends caring for those living with rare dementias. Following my summit of Mount Everest, it’s been fantastic to watch our Iceland colleagues get behind such a worthy cause, and the results truly speak for themselves.”
Claire Wood Hill, chief executive of The National Brain Appeal, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Richard Walker and everyone at Iceland. This has been the biggest and most significant charity corporate partnership that The National Brain Appeal has ever had. It has been wonderful to see how enthusiastic, engaged and supportive everyone at Iceland and the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation has been in their fundraising for the charity. Richard Walker’s achievement summiting Everest in three weeks was awe-inspiring. The money they have collectively raised, and the world-first Rare Dementia Support Centre that they are helping us to create, really will transform the lives of people affected by these devastating conditions.”
Professor Nick Fox, consultant neurologist and director of the Dementia Research Centre at the UCL Institute of Neurology, said: “The level of fundraising achieved by Richard Walker and everyone at Iceland is truly amazing. Their fantastic support towards creating a state-of-the-art Rare Dementia Support Centre will make a real difference to families facing the most difficult of situations. The new centre will have a substantial positive impact, providing specialist support that can’t be found anywhere else. The Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation partnership with The National Brain Appeal has been genuinely transformational for the charity and the appeal and the impact of this project will be immense for the thousands of people affected by rare dementias, their families, carers and professionals who work alongside them.”
