Alzheimer's/Dementia Forget Me Not Football Memorabilia Collection Display and Where’s Wally Warwick Walk Without Wallets

05/06/2019  -  4.14

Terry Marsh

My workplace recently voted for a new corporate charity and the Alzheimer’s Society was nominated. Not my first choice to be honest; I went with ‘Mind’. However, there must be a reason why so many Telent staff chose this charity. Being totally naïve about Alzheimer’s/Dementia in general, I thought I would look into it more.

I was shocked at what I found out. Alzheimer’s/Dementia has taken over as the biggest killer in the UK. Why wasn’t I aware of this? How did this happen and yet there doesn’t appear to be much general discussion going on so everyone in the UK is aware? Even more concerning is there is no cure. Someone who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s/Dementia has just been handed a death sentence.

To my horror I found there is also a big stigma attached. I am a proud Millwall fan and know all about stigma. However, when you compare it to the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s, I am embarrassed to feel stigmatised at all. Even the families affected tend to keep it to themselves due to embarrassment that they do not want to share their “pain” with the world. It is a silent killer that many are too ashamed to talk about.

Well, we need to talk about it now. We can’t afford to pass on the problem to the next generation and expect them to deal with it. The world needs to know that Alzheimer’s/Dementia is the biggest killer. We need to talk about it openly, end the stigma and ultimately find a cure. Significant investment to research Alzheimer’s/Dementia is of paramount importance.

As Alzheimer’s can last up to eight years, there is a big impact on families, friends and carers. They need to be supported and know the whole of humanity, is right behind them. Obviously, fund raising is really important and will make a massive difference. Raising awareness is just as important if not more so.

So, what does a middle-aged man do when his kids are grown up? When he gets to the stage where work is important but fairly easy? Does he buy a new speedboat or new motorbike? Well, in my case I decided to get off my backside and give a little bit back to people who needed help.

I consider myself one of the lucky ones, growing up without too much technology to worry about. As a kid all I wanted for Christmas was a new football. I would spend most of my youth outdoors. Football in winter and in summer and cricket in summer! I lived and breathed sport, particularly football. I played for the school and a Sunday team. When I left school, I played for either the Ministry of Defence team or a Royal Signals (238 Signal Squadron) team. With all that love of football I decided to ask the football world for help.

How about a football memory campaign to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s/Dementia? How about a unique memory item collection? A Football Forget Me Not Memorabilia Campaign. The Alzheimer’s Society symbol is a ‘Forget Me Not’.

Playing to my strengths I started writing to a few football clubs. Football is what I know, and football fans are a powerful force when they get together. Despite certain stigmas of their own, football fans are generally generous souls by nature.

I randomly received a signed shirt from Bolton Wanderers FC in the post to auction for this cause. Considering the current financial predicament BWFC find themselves in I found this amazing. It made me dream about getting a signed shirt from all 92 league clubs. Some people laughed at me saying it was impossible. That may be so, but I now have 75% of professional clubs or their fans committed to helping. Although they have not all sent me a signed shirt, they have sent me some wonderful items that got me thinking even more.

I now have several signed shirts, from clubs such as Bolton, Millwall, Charlton, Notts County, AFC Wimbledon, Gillingham, Bristol City, Forest Green Rovers and Carlisle United. Hundreds of other items from across the football world such as a signed Mo Salah Liverpool shirt sent to me from Gordon Taylor OBE, the Chairman of the PFA; match programmes; photos of Exeter City’s tour of South America in 1914; copies of their two programmes when they beat Manchester United in a replay and a programme from when Colchester United knocked the mighty Leeds United out of the cup in the 70’s. The list is growing every day. We now have clubs from Devon to Cumbria supporting us.

I have recently taken my collection to Fulham FC to meet some lovely Dementia patients. The stories these items evoked were extraordinary. Football has a unique way of preserving memories

Several clubs are interested in displaying their own historical memory items next season. They have asked their fanbase to contribute - you can imagine the stories out there waiting to be told. The idea then is for each club to send their items to one, unique historical National Display bringing a smile to football fans across the world to see such a historical display.

However, in achieving this, I have basically had to take on a second ‘part time job’ and if any other willing people want to help, we could share the ‘burden’ and get even better results. I say burden, but nothing could be further from the truth. It has been an absolute pleasure so far. Yes, I have heard many sad, even devastating stories since I started this journey of discovery and education, but the kindness received so far has been extraordinary. It is a privilege to now be in the position I find myself in.

For Lent 2018, I gave up sweets, chocolate, cakes, biscuits, crisps and decided to take my daughter’s new puppy, Archie on long walks every day. Fast forward four months and I had lost four stone and was full of energy. The simple walking each day also helped clear my mind. Made me realise how lucky I was and as I now enjoyed walking so much why not arrange a sponsored walk.

Thus, in addition to creating the memory item collection, I became one of the founding members of  Wally’s Walk (@WallysWalk1). We are campaigning to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society, but, just as important, to raise awareness and end the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s/Dementia.

I and six colleagues who work for the communications company, Telent, decided to arrange an epic walk from London to the company’s headquarters in Warwick during Dementia Action Week, in May 2019. The walk was called ‘Where’s Wally Warwick Walk Without Wallets’. We walked the whole way over five days between the 17^th and 22^nd May and had no access to money, food, drink or accommodation. However, several kind people committed to helping us along the way. Not only were we given food, drink and accommodation for free, we were also set multiple challenges such as rally driving and facing cricket balls bowled from a 100mph bowling machine. The event raised in the region of £2,000 (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wallyswalk).

I recently followed Football and War on Twitter and this got me thinking even more. I worked for the Ministry of Defence for 23 years. I love our Armed Forces. How about a display for our veterans? Dementia has no prejudice; it has taken some of our most famous footballers away but also some of our most gallant servicemen and women.

Can you imagine the stories locked away that need to be told? With some help I want these stories out in the open. I want everyone to know what our servicemen and woman go through during war times as well as the famous stories of footballers during war time.

This is my next challenge!

Biography

Terry is married to Nicole with three grown up children, Harry 23, Chloe 21 and Sam 19. He works for Telent Technology as a Jeopardy Manager. Terry is the founder of the Alzheimer's/Dementia Forget Me Not Football Memorabilia Collection Display and one of the co-founders of the “Where’s Wally Warwick Walk Without Wallets”