LEIGH area people are being asked to say thanks for the memory next week and remember 4,500 local Alzheimer victims and their long-suffering carer heroes.

Staff at Heathside, Plank Lane, Leigh, Wigan Council's home for older people living with dementia or Alzheimer's Disease, will plant a yellow rose in a new sensory garden as a permanent symbol of Alzheimer's Awareness Week.

This will have a giant yellow ribbon tied around it on Tuesday in the presence of staff, residents, invited guests from the Alzheimer's Society and Wigan Social Services department.

During the week, July 5 to 11, Heathside staff will be fund raising locally with a cheese and wine evening on Monday (6th) and an open afternoon at Sunshine House, Scholes, on Wednesday (8th).

On Thursday (9th) members of the Leigh Alzheimer's-Dementia Carers' Support Group will be staffing an information stall at Leigh Library, and on Saturday (11th) there will be an open coffee morning at Heathside.

Heathside manager, Cath Fairhurst, said: "While most of us are grateful to remember lots of special things, like friends, comments and holidays, we should keep a corner in our minds to remember the dreadful plight of those who have largely lost the ability to remember anything for very long.

"The littlest things in life become mountains to climb. They turn on the gas then forget to light it, or fail to recognise they are hungry or thirsty.

"Even the most well known faces in their lives become the faces of complete strangers. Former US president Ronald Reagan now has to be reminded that he was for eight years the most powerful man in the world.

"People who have developed dementia are let down by their memory. Their carers have to support them constantly and have to cope with the devastating effects of this disease every day.

"The way in which they continue to be patient, kind and loving is nothing short of heroic. Please help us to help them by supporting our fund raising events."

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