Bystanders were taken aback by a huge scarf wrapped around the entire circumference of the Royal Albert Hall in London today, all in support of a dementia charity.
The Lewy Body Society appealed for people from across the country to knit their own scarf to make up the mile-long scarf, which was proudly displayed around the iconic London landmark.
The huge scarf project – #AScarfForLewy – was the charity’s way to show support for those living with Lewy body dementia, raising awareness of this very often misdiagnosed condition, and to symbolise the wraparound support available for those living with the disease.
Actress Susan Hampshire CBE, the star of many film and TV classics including The Forsyte Saga, The Pallisers and Monarch of the Glen, and panto legend, Christopher Biggins, attended on the day and supported the event.
Susan said: “This was a wonderful project – not only was it a unique way of raising awareness of Lewy Body dementia but brought so many people together through knitting. I know first-hand how challenging it can be looking after someone with dementia, so it was wonderful to speak to other carers on the day.”
More than 100 volunteers attended to wrap the 1600m long scarf around the iconic landmark seven times.
Other celebrities who showed their support with a knitted contribution included Dame Prue Leith DBL, TV presenter Anne Robinson, and actress Paula Wilcox, who currently stars in ITV’s Coronation Street as Elaine Jones.
The Lewy Body Society funds research into Lewy Body dementia, a little-known type of dementia that is very different to the most common type, Alzheimer’s disease, and requires different support and treatment. It is the only UK charity focused exclusively on this type of dementia, and was the first in Europe.
It’s estimated that around 100,000 people in the UK have Lewy body dementia, around 10-15 per cent of those with dementia. It can cause the motor problems associated with Parkinson’s disease, hallucinations and sleep problems, as well as the progressive decline in cognitive abilities found in other forms of dementia.
Jacqui Cannon, Chief Executive of The Lewy Body Society, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Prue and her fellow celebrities for their contributions, and to all the knitters up and down the country and internationally who’ve got out their needles in support of A Scarf for Lewy.
“We’ve been blown away by the support and the finished product, which has given the Royal Albert Hall its own big hug! The aim of the scarf is to showcase the huge amount of wraparound support that we can offer those living with Lewy body dementia and their families, as it’s so often misdiagnosed, and not enough people know about it.
“We hope more people will become aware about the condition and show their support to families affected by the disease through this unique event.”
Once taken down from the Royal Albert Hall, the scarves will be will be distributed to homeless charities across the capital.
