Initiative to provide shop collection tins for Alzheimer’s charity inspired by parents’ battle with dementia

BARNARD Castle was proclaimed a dementia-friendly town more than a year ago, but there is still a dearth of collection tins for charities combatting the disease.
That is about to change thanks to a volunteer whose family has been affected by condition.
Both of Cotherstone resident Adele Tyler’s parents suffered from dementia before they died, spurring her on to get involved with projects associated with the disease.
She said: “I am therefore very keen to support the charity and last year took part in their elf day to raise funds.
“I am also part of The Castle Players group organising
a playlet to take around schools to help educate children.”
More recently she was contacted by Alzheimer’s Research UK to co-ordinate collection tins in the town.
She added: “Seeing as Barnard Castle is a dementia-friendly town, it made sense.”
Chocolate Fayre, in Horse Market, became the first shop in the town to take delivery of a collection tin.
Kenny Walker, of confectionary shop, said: “Everyone knows someone who has some stage of dementia. It is important to raise awareness if nothing else.
“We have quite a few people come in who have forgotten what they came in for, or who have left their shopping behind. We do have an ageing population in Teesdale so we are more affected by it than many other places.
“We try to help as best we can by being patient and kind.”
Any other shops and businesses in the town that would like to take a collection tin for Alzheimer’s Research UK can contact Ms Tyler on 07736 666254.