Bank Of England Smash Fundraising Target With £49,000 For Alzheimer’s Research UK
The Bank of England, the central bank of the United Kingdom, have raised an incredible £49,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK after staff voted them one of their Charities of the Year for 2014/15. Head office staff took part in a number of fundraising activities with marathon runs, an old crockery auction, staff quizzes and bake sales combining to smash the Bank’s £35,000 target.
Each year, Bank of England staff are invited to nominate charities to become one of their two Charities of the Year. The UK’s leading dementia research charity received a large share of staff votes after being nominated by Bank of England employee and Alzheimer’s Research UK Honorary Fellow Dr Martin Weale. Dr Weale, a leading economist and member of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, was one of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s founding trustees and was treasurer of the charity’s Trustee Board from 1995 to 2008.
Alzheimer’s Research UK and Mind were both nominated by staff last October with the bank pledging to raise £35,000 for each.
Dr Weale said:
“I am delighted that so much money has been raised and want to thank all the Bank staff for their impressive fundraising efforts. The money will be very valuable to Alzheimer’s Research UK, helping them to continue their important work towards defeating dementia.”
As part of a year of events, volunteers from Alzheimer’s Research UK teamed up with Bank of England staff in July to fundraise on Governors’ day. The day is an opportunity for staff and their families to have a day out which raises vital funds for their partner charities. This year there was a bake sale judged by current Bank of England governor, Mark Carney, a cricket match and Alzheimer’s Research UK took along various games explaining dementia for children and teens to play.
Vicky Naylor, corporate partnerships officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“Alzheimer’s Research UK are thrilled to have been the Bank of England’s partner charity over the last year with their staff raising an amazing £49,000 to help fund pioneering dementia research. Their dedicated head office staff have participated in a variety of activities including running the London Marathon and Royal Parks Half Marathon, which have all contributed to them beating their initial £35,000 target.
“With 225,000 people developing the condition each year, latest figures show dementia costs the UK economy over £24 billion per year – more than cancer and heart disease combined. This number is on the rise and we rely on support from businesses and the public to be able to fund our research to defeat dementia. It’s thanks to the fundraising efforts of people like the staff at the Bank of England that we’re able to continue our work.”
The money raised by Bank of England staff will help fund cutting edge equipment for scientists and hours of world-class dementia research.
To find out more about corporate partnerships with Alzheimer’s Research UK, contact corporate@alzheimersresearchuk.org or call 0300 111 5 333.
