Hull FC legend Lee Crooks and members of the club’s Community Foundation recently visited Hull residential care home Elm Tree Court in the build-up to the club’s Charity Match Day this weekend.
The Black & Whites take on St Helens at the MKM Stadium, celebrating our partnership with Alzheimer’s Society by wearing our limited edition 2024 Charity Jersey as the club aims to highlight the importance of early dementia diagnosis.
The visit was part of the Community Foundation’s ‘Our Best Years’ sessions, which focus on bringing the club’s older fans together to celebrate Hull FC, offering inclusive opportunities for fans to meet new people, make friends, and participate in activities which promote health and social outcomes.
As well as being held at club facilities, the sessions also hit the road and visit locations across the city. Elm Tree Court is a dementia and Alzheimer’s specific residential home, with the club hosting a special heritage session in the build up to Saturday’s Charity Match Day.
Residents got the opportunity to reminisce about the Black & Whites, as well as take a look at old shirts, programmes, and club memorabilia.
Club legend Lee Crooks was also in attendance to reflect on his playing career with the supporters, and talk about his current role with the club.
A 2024 Charity Jersey was presented to the residents of Elm Tree Court, and was received by resident Morris, who was the club’s coach driver in the 1950s and 1960s, with one of his fondest memories being driving the team to the Challenge Cup Finals at Wembley Stadium, including club icon Johnny Whiteley MBE.
To find out more about the Community Foundation’s ‘Our Best Years’ sessions – click here
The club’s 2024 Charity Jersey features imagery and newspaper headlines from some of the club’s most iconic moments throughout our 159 year history, with the design fading towards the top of the shirt, while players will also play without names on the back of their shirt during the fixture – these elements aim to attention to how people with dementia lose precious memories, even the names of their favourite players
To read more about out 2024 Charity Jersey – click here
To buy yours online in time for Saturday’s game – click here
What is Alzheimer’s and dementia?
Alzheimer’s is a specific brain disease that accounts for 60% to 80% of all dementia cases – dementia is the general overarching term for symptoms affecting cognitive abilities that include a decline in memory, confusion, changes in behavior, reasoning or other thinking skills.
While there are other forms of dementia, such as vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia and Frontotemporal dementia, all of which have their own distinct causes and characteristics, Alzheimer’s is the most common form in the UK, characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline.
Dementia, the UK’s biggest killer with one in three people born today expected to develop dementia in their lifetime, is caused when the disease damages nerve cells in the brain, is progressive, which means symptoms may be relatively mild at first, but they get worse over time.
Dementia devastates lives, but it’s not an inevitable part of ageing. Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 982,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia. By 2040, 1.4 million people will be living with the condition in the UK, and many millions more carers, partners, families and friends affected.
And although dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, one in three people living with dementia don’t have a diagnosis and too many people still think dementia is just a sign of normal ageing, unsure of the symptoms, and too afraid to visit their GP. A diagnosis can allow families more time to plan for the future and unlock the door to treatment, care and support.
To find out more about the symptoms, causes and treatments for dementia – click here
If you see the signs of dementia in a loved one, show them your support by visiting alzheimers.org.uk/sports to use Alzheimer’s Society’s symptoms checklist.
Who are Alzheimer’s Society?
Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity, providing help and hope to everyone affected by dementia – past, present and future.
Too many face dementia alone. Alzheimer’s Society wants everyone affected by dementia to know that whoever they are, whatever they’re going through, they can turn to us for expert support through practical advice, emotional support, and guidance for the best next step.
Alzheimer’s Society is the only UK dementia research charity to fund both biomedical and care research, funding research in dementia diagnosis, treatment and care, and is a funding partner of the UK Dementia Research Institute, and will not rest until people living with dementia and their carers live more fulfilled and less fearful lives, free from stigma and inequality.
Alzheimer’s Society offers friendly support through a range of virtual and in-person services, including a Dementia Support Line (0333 150 3456), an online Dementia Support Forum, and Dementia Advisers.
Alzheimer’s Society relies on voluntary donations to continue our vital work. You can donate now by calling 0330 333 0804 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk
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