Nuneaton’s MP Marcus Jones is urging local people to sign up to support Dementia Awareness Week. He has previously pledged to take action to support the 800,000 people living with dementia across the UK.

Marcus joined 200 other MPs and representatives from Alzheimer’s Society in Parliament last September to provide a handwritten statement of the action they will take to support people with dementia and their carers. He pledged to help make their constituency dementia friendly so people with dementia can play a full role in their community and raised the issue with the Prime Minister during Prime Minister’s Questions.

Commenting, Marcus said: “I was pleased to support the event organised by the Alzheimer’s Society back in September.

“There are more than 7,700 good reasons why each and everyone one of us in the county should get involved in Dementia Awareness Week, which runs from 18th-24th May.  I say this because that is the number of people in Warwickshire who are currently living with dementia.

“One in three people over the age of 65 will develop dementia, and as a local MP, all too often I see first-hand the devastating impact the condition has - not only the person with dementia but their family, friends and carers too.

“The fact that there are more and more people in Warwickshire who are living with dementia puts into perspective why there is a duty on us all and  society as a whole to act. That’s why, this week I’m doing my bit for Dementia Awareness Week, and why I’m challenging everyone to do the same.”

A whole host of activities in and around Warwickshire will be taking place to make people aware of the help and support that is on offer if they are worried about their memory, or that of a loved one.

Adding, Marcus said: “From becoming a Dementia Friend as I did in 2013 to spreading the word on social media, together we can tackle this condition. There are lots of small ways that we can all make a big difference for people in our local community this Dementia Awareness Week. “

Dementia Awareness Week 2014 runs from 18-24 May. Find out more at alzheimers.org.uk/daw2014. If you have any concerns about dementia, you can call Alzheimer’s Society’s National Dementia Helpline for confidential advice, information and support on 0300 222 11 22. You can also email enquiries to [email protected]