Alzheimer’s Research UK Patron Sir Terry Pratchett Has Died

Fantasy author Terry Pratchett has died aged 66 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Sir Terry was a patron of Alzheimer’s Research UK who issued a statement:

Hilary Evans, Director of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

“The loss of Sir Terry Pratchett will have a profound effect on both literature and the 850,000 people who live with dementia. Sir Terry’s uniquely witty and affecting announcement of his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s at our 2008 conference will be seen as a watershed moment for all people living with dementia. It engendered huge public awareness of Alzheimer’s and issued a call to arms for society to talk about dementia and take steps towards defeating it.

“Sir Terry’s legacy to dementia research is huge both financially and as an enormous motivation to our supporters and scientists. When he announced the inaugural Terry Pratchett research fellowship in 2010, he insisted on a single word to be engraved on the trophy: “strive”. Our scientists continue to act upon this powerful call, and push forwards with the research that will defeat the condition that took Sir Terry from us. We will miss him.”