Sir Jackie Stewart commits £2 million to dementia research

Formula 1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart has committed £2 million to dementia research via his own charity, Sir Jackie's Race Against Dementia, as his wife of 56 years, Helen, continues her battle with the disease after being diagnosed in 2016.

Stewart and Helen were childhood sweethearts and married back in 1962, with the pair staying together throughout his racing career.

The Scot set up the charity as a way to accelerate research into the cause and prevention of dementia, and in partnership with Alzheimer's Research UK, will donate funds to scientists striving to find a cure.

"Helen has always been my rock and her razor-sharp mind was one of the first things that I fell in love with," Stewart said.

"Four years on from her diagnosis, she's still the same Helen, with the same sense of humour, but with a gradual decline in memory and mobility that throws up all sorts of challenges that she, and we, have had to learn to cope with.

.@F1 racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart has launched a £2m drive to accelerate innovation in dementia research. This is his story. pic.twitter.com/GeiYmQNiD5 — AlzheimersResearchUK (@ARUKnews) October 25, 2018

"Over the last few years my family has been going through an experience that we never expected, and which has turned our world upside down.”

The three-time F1 champion recognises his advantageous position to provide care for Helen due to his wealth, but the aim of the charity is to ensure that everyone has access to the same amount of attention from healthcare professionals no matter their financial position.

"I'm very fortunate to be able to afford 24-hour specialist care for Helen," he continued.

"But I know that this is not possible for millions of other families touched by dementia.

"The cost of care can be enormous and from a medical point of view, there are very few treatments that can make life easier. This has got to change."

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