Fundangles - a Dementia Support Group

Hi everyone

My name is Paul and I am full-time carer for my darling wife Anne who was diagnosed with dementia in 2015.

In honour of Dementia Action week which runs from 13-19th May 2024, I am having my hair dyed blue. Why you ask? Well blue is the primary colour of the Forget Me Not flower, which has been a symbol for dementia support for many years.

I am raising funds for my local support group based within the Chelmsford and Ingatestone area. Fundangles provides musical activities for dementia sufferers and their carers / loved ones. This includes Musical Bingo where instead of numbers on a card, there are song titles and Glenys plays about 30 seconds of a song which are then ticked off. Then there are singalongs which are very popular. This is a combination of music played through a CD player and a live musician, in this case our resident keyboard player Jim.

I can attest from personal experience the power of music on a dementia sufferer. Although we do have printed song sheets to follow, with many participants, the music flicks a switch and straight away they are singing loud and clear with word perfect lyrics from memory. Anne's favourite song is The Beatles' "All My Loving" and if I start her off, she does not need to see the song sheet. It is a very emotional and uplifting experience and proof that life does not stop with the diagnosis. There is still plenty to enjoy and share together. Check out the update from 8th May to see a video of myself and Anne singing this song together.

Fundangles are planning a day-trip to Burnham on Crouch in July for 50 people. My initial target is £1,000 to cover the cost of transport and lunch. Any additional funds raised will benefit Side By Side, a support group which runs alongside Fundangles and is primarily there for carers, giving practical help and advice to assist them and their loved ones through their dementia journey. It will also help support additional activities throughout the year.

Any donations will be very much welcomed and I will update this page as soon as my hair is done on Friday 10th May.

By the way, just to confirm that this will not be a spray-on job. I have an appointment booked with Anne's hairdressers Toggs in Woodford Broadway for a proper colour. Hopefully this should last at least 2-3 weeks.

In the interest of fairness I should also give a mention to Anne's other hairdressers in Chelmsford (the one she uses on alternate Saturdays) i.e. Simply Hair & Beauty at The Vineyards, Great Baddow

Many thanks

Paul Gillooly