TEAMS and people across the generations are being urged to "unite against dementia" by signing up for the Southampton Memory Walk.

It comes as figures show more than 2,500 people in the city are living with dementia.

Now Alzheimer’s Society is asking for your help as the charity pledges to invest £150 million over the next ten years in the search for better treatments and work towards a cure

Andrea Lodge, whose mum had dementia, is asking people to register for the event to help the charity raise money for research and services.

Andrea, from Southampton, has seen family life transformed since her mum, Ethna Rafferty, was diagnosed with dementia 13 years ago.

Andrea is taking part in Southampton Memory Walk and asking for supporters to follow suit.

The 52-year-old said: “My mum had Alzheimer’s disease and died six weeks ago. She was a wonderful person, so loving, wise, caring and had great humour. Ethna had a great love of nature walks and would take nearly every child in the village on long walks often having only started out with myself and my brother.

“She spent her life caring for children with special needs and a time also with elderly care. Seeing how much support she needed during the whole progression of the disease has spurred me and my osteoarthritic knees on to raise money in memory of my mum.

“Most of us know someone who has a connection with dementia, whether as a family member or a friend, and the support Alzheimer’s Society gave to my dad and the amount of support I got from Talking Point, the online forum, was fantastic. More money needs to be put into research and helping the future generations of people living with dementia.”

A total of 990 supporters have already registered to take part in the Southampton Memory Walk, which will be on September 9 on Southampton Common.

Last year’s event – attended by 2,470 people – raised more than £140,000 to fund research and provide support.

Gary Walker, Alzheimer’s Society Services Manager for Southampton and surrounding areas, said: “Dementia is now the UK’s biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes.

“”We’re calling on family, friends and teams from across Southampton to unite against dementia this autumn. Walk with us at Southampton Memory Walk to help defeat dementia.

“”Dementia devastates lives, but every pound raised through memory Walk will help us provide vital information and support, improve care, fund research and create lasting for people affected by the condition.

“We are urging people to unite against dementia and register now at memorywalk.org.uk”

To sponsor Andrea, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrea-lodge2