Manchester’s Central Hall got a warm woolly hug as it was wrapped in a mile of scarves for Lewy body dementia.

Hundreds of supporters from Manchester to Margate knitted more than a thousand scarves for the Lewy Body Society event on Thursday, October 17.

People travelled from across the country to support LBS’s Scarf for Lewy, raising awareness of the second most common form of the neurodegenerative dementia in older people.

The UK’s only charity solely dedicated to supporting people living with Lewy body dementia, their families, and medical researchers, stages annual autumnal yarnbombings at major UK landmarks, with previous locations including the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Scarf For Lewy organiser Vicky Hands said: “I wanted to do something that everybody could get involved with, so I thought that lots of people can get onboard and knit a scarf. One scarf wasn't going to make a splash, so I had the idea to get lots of people to make one which I would sew together, something spectacular!

"I got involved with Lewy Body Society because when my husband was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2018 I felt so helpless. I decided something needed to be done to help spread the word about the charity and it gave me a purpose."

Lewy Body Society ambassador and showbiz legend Christopher Biggins spoke from the historic Central Building in Oldham Street: "I have been involved with the different Scarf For Lewy events over the years. When you look at all these scarfs, it's just so impressive and wonderful.

“We need to keep the momentum up and what comes home to me is the people who are looking after the people with Lewy body dementia. We must preach this to the world and get a lot more people involved."

Celebrity supporter TV presenter Rob Rinder, who father is living with Lewy body dementia, also sent a message of support before the big event.

Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK. The symptoms of this relatively unknown form of the degenerative brain disease that affects memory, thinking, movement, sleep and behaviour.

Lord Lieutenant from Manchester Wendy Jones said: "I am thrilled to see a Wigan based charity leading the way to support people living with LBD and their carers. So much is going on to support people with the disease across Greater Manchester so to have the event in the heart of the city is fantastic to raise much needed awareness. Research is vital and LBS is doing a great job and punching above its weight to raise funds, to help people in the future. Best of luck going forward."

Also showing their support at the event, which included performances from Dancing with Dementia and the Do Your Thing choir, was Debbie Abrahams, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on dementia and MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, Senior Research Fellow with National Institute for Health Research Dr Clarissa Gibel and LBS Ambassador Sylvia White, who shared her story as a carer.

Jacqui Cannon, the CEO of the Lewy Body Society, said: “It is wonderful that wool has brought all our supporters together again in such a colourful and cosy way.

“People with Lewy body dementia and their families face a struggle from getting a proper diagnosis to coping with care at home and the inevitable fears about the future. It can be very challenging to live with. When they might feel like they are unravelling, we are here to give them a warm hug while we campaign for better support and more research into the disease.”

The lovingly crafted woollies are now being separated into individual scarves again and donated to The Brick, a Wigan charity supporting people at risk of homelessness.

Find out more about Lewy body dementia here.

Jacqui Cannon, the CEO of the Lewy Body Society, is available to print and broadcast media for interview. Contact info@lewybody.org or 01942 914000.

The Lewy Body Society was the first charity in Europe, dedicated to supporting research and raising awareness of Lewy body dementia.

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