94-year-Old Dresses up as Father Christmas for Alzheimer’s Research UK

A Saffron Walden grandad determined to still have fun at 94 has raised hundreds of pounds for Alzheimer’s Research UK after dressing up as Father Christmas.

Stanley Bennett, with the help of his son Ron, was spotted spreading some festive cheer at his local Tesco in Saffron Walden on 12 December, raising over £200 for the UK’s leading dementia research charity.

Stanley is known for his entertaining fundraising – in March he also raised over £1,200 while dressing up as an Easter Bunny.

The great grandfather-of-two decided to go ahead with his quirky fundraisers after reading another “depressing” article in a national newspaper which suggested “life is over” once you’re in a care home.

As well as raising money for research, Stanley aims to raise awareness for all the “wonderful” care homes, including Stanley Wilson Lodge in Saffron Walden, which he says he has had a great experience with over the last few years.

Stanley’s wife Agnes sadly died with vascular dementia in September 2014, at the age of 91, after being diagnosed 10 years earlier, and lived in the care home before she passed away.

Jessica Hiscocks, Regional Fundraising Officer for Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

“I’d like to thank Stanley for getting into the spirit of Christmas and cheering everyone up as Santa Claus.

“At the moment there are 850,000 people across the UK living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including more than 20,000 in Essex.

“We rely on public donations and it’s thanks to people like Stanley that Alzheimer’s Research UK is able to continue its pioneering work into finding treatments and preventions for dementia.”

To donate to Stanley’s fundraising page go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Stan-Bennett.

To watch Alzheimer’s Research UK’s new Christmas advert, Santa Forgot, go to http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/.