AN INTERNATIONAL recording artist has spoken of the devastating effects dementia, the disease which afflicted his mother in the last years of her life.

Rick Guard, 35, is a contemporary jazz singer and songwriter who has worked with Ronan Keating, Russell Watson, and Lionel Richie and has been hailed as the ‘British Michael Buble’.

On his debut album, Anyone But Me, he wrote the poignant song Missing Person as a tribute to his late mother Doreen, who died from Alzheimer's disease at the age of 77 in 2008.

Determined to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease in his mother's name, Rick has donated proceeds from the song to the society.

Chorley-born Rick, who grew up on Euxton Lane and attended St Michael’s School, has also supported the Alzheimer's Society by running the 2010 Virgin London Marathon.

He said: “My mother was a strong, typically Lancastrian woman.

“When I was struggling to find singing gigs she was always supportive and told me never to give up.

“In her 60s I noticed she struggled to remember anything without lists and she was later diagnosed with dementia. The disease creates a bridge that can’t be crossed between loved ones.

“It was heartbreaking to see she had written mine and my father’s name down on paper to help her remember.

“Later on she’d smile but I knew she didn’t have a clue who I was.”

Dementia Awareness Week is taking place until July 9 and Rick has nothing but praise for the Alzheimer's Society.

“They do a great job of educating people about the wider effects of the disease,” he said.

“They are also key in bringing together relatives and friends of sufferers to share their experiences as dealing with the effects of dementia can be a frustrating and isolating experience.”