Wendy’s at the double

Yorkshire and Humber Join Dementia Research Champion Wendy Mitchell has had her work recognised by two awards over the last month.

Wendy, who lives in East Yorkshire, was diagnosed with dementia in July 2014 and since then has thrown herself into work to raise awareness of the condition, becoming an active campaigner in doing so.

In recognition of her work, the former NHS manager received the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends Inspiring Individual Award from Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt at a ceremony at County Hall in London on 29 November.

She was also named Humber NHS Foundation Trust’s Volunteer of the Year award at the trust’s awards on 8 December at the Best Western Willerby Manor Hotel. Two of Humber’s research and development team, Cathryn Hart and Alison Greenley, collected the award on Wendy’s behalf.

Wendy said: “To win both these awards is very humbling. I’m passionate about raising awareness of dementia research and I want to show that living with dementia does not mean you have to give in to the condition.”

Wendy has been involved in numerous local and national dementia initiatives, including working with the Department of Health on the Prime Minister’s 2020 Challenge on Dementia.

Presenting her with her Alzheimer’s Society award, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Tackling dementia is one of my top priorities as Health Secretary and I want the UK to become the best country in the world for care, support, research and awareness – so I am proud to support these awards and listen to the stories of these inspirational campaigners.”

Of the Humber NHS Foundation Trust award, Cathryn Hart said: “It’s fantastic that we have such a nationally-recognised figure as Wendy raising awareness of dementia research in our region. We have a very close relationship with her and she was a deserving winner of our 2017 Volunteer of the Year award.”

Join Dementia Research Champions are a group of people from around the UK, with and without memory problems, who care about dementia research, and want to play a role in accelerating progress. They have volunteered to raise awareness of the importance of clinical research and Join Dementia Research in their communities and at local events.

To find out more about dementia research, visit the Join Dementia Research website.

DOUBLE-UP: Wendy receives her Alzheimer's Society award from the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP, and TV celebrity Angela Rippon. The Society's chief executive, Jeremy Hughes, is on the left.