During World Alzheimer’s Month September 2021, Alzheimer Athens ran an awareness campaign under the theme “Lost memories”. The campaign was mainly digital, on social media and selected websites, for the whole month. More than 5,000 posters were pasted all over the Attica region and 60 giant posters were placed at bus and subway stops. According to Alzheimer Athens' data from the digital campaign, it engaged more than 120,000 people and the actual number appears to be much higher.
On 21 September, Alzheimer Athens threw a very interesting fundraising event at the garden of Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens. During the event, the President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou gave a speech highlighting the difficulties that people with dementia and their families face in Greece and praising Alzheimer Athens' excellent work. Dr Paraskevi Sakka, President of the Greek National Observatory for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease and President of Alzheimer Athens, presented the newest data in the dementia field worldwide. Undersecretary of Health Zoe Rapti and Attica Regional Governor George Patoulis gave short speeches regarding the major issue of dementia in Greece. Politicians, members of the Greek scientific community, people with dementia and family caregivers also attended. Following the speeches, there was a screening of the film “The Father” featuring Oscar-winning Anthony Hopkins in the role of a man with dementia. A reception brought the evening to a close. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event hosted the allotted maximum of 200 people.
Informative material and the new issue of Alzheimer Athens' quarterly magazine was handed out to all the attendees, as well as an Awareness Memory Bracelet. The event attracted a lot of publicity from the media and all money raised from the event will go towards extra services for people with dementia and their families. For everyone at Alzheimer Athens, 21 September 2021 will be a day to remember!
