Dementia UK is organising an event at Harrow Arts Centre on Saturday 9th September to raise funds for Dementia UK and combat stigma in South Asian communities around dementia.
Umesh Raichada and his family have been organising fundraising events with South Asian musicians and singers since 2019. They chose to raise funds and awareness for Dementia UK after using the Helpline and Admiral Nurse service when Umesh’s mother in law was diagnosed with dementia.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Raichada said, “My family and I are organising this event as we have sadly had to come to terms with dementia and the effect it has on a loved one. My mother-in-law was diagnosed with dementia several years back and sadly passed away, and my father-in-law has also recently been diagnosed with mild dementia. We were lucky enough to discover the support Dementia UK offers through its Helpline and Admiral Nurses to those living with dementia while we were caring for my mother-in-law. It was helpful to talk to someone we could rely on for advice.
“Sadly, there seems to be a lot of stigma around dementia, particularly in the Asian community. We feel strongly that it is important to distinguish between old age and dementia. This is something we want to address – and we decided to do so through events. Our eldest daughter Karishma Raichada set up a company called Glitz Events, and we are hosting a special Bollywood music concert called ‘RETRO FUTURE’ on Saturday 9thSeptember at Harrow Arts Centre to raise both awareness of dementia and funds for Dementia UK.”
There will be Retro Future – with songs from the 80s which will feature performances from a great Bollywood music band named Kaykay & Co on the Harrow Arts Centre website.
