Campaigning Jesmond widower Bill Wilson has been backed by famous names including Colin Firth, Richard Madeley and Mary McCartney as part of a campaign highlighting the devastating impact dementia can have on relationships.
Bill, whose wife Dr Jo Wilson died in January after years living with dementia, has spoken candidly about the impact her illness had on them both. Now, he is backing an Alzheimer's Society campaign called "in sickness and in health" which draws attention to the challenges dementia causes to couples.
The campaign features emotional TV and radio adverts - and the latter is narrated by actor Colin Firth. Meanwhile, Mary McCartney, Sir Paul McCartney’s daughter, has taken photographs of couples affected by dementia, and these will appear on billboards around the country.
Bill has fought for better provision for people living with dementia throughout the time his wife spent living with a debilitating dementia diagnosis. He said: "It's devastatingly hard to watch the woman you love starting to disappear from your life, starting to fade away. After over 50 years together, Jo was leaving me and it was like, 'I don't want you to leave me. I need you here with me'.
"The bad times were worse than your most horrible nightmare. Feelings of loneliness and anxiety are heightened. Time and again I struggled to access the right help and support following Jo’s diagnosis."
Bill said that he was always "desperately looking for a hint of the wife I remember" and that it was "horrendous" to go through. He added: "Recently someone said our story vividly depicted a desperately cruel disease, institutional failures but also a love so powerful it could not be broken."
Talking about the photography, Mary McCartney said: "I’ve always been drawn to people and their relationships, focusing my photography on discovering those rare moments of unguarded, emotionally charged intimacy.
"That's why I wanted to be part of this campaign for Alzheimer’s Society. To visually highlight these relationships and the cherished moments within – moments which become challenged due to dementia. I hope these images help to raise awareness of both dementia and the crucial work of Alzheimer's Society.”
Broadcaster and writer Richard Madeley - is a supporter of the charity. He said: "Alzheimer’s Society’s new campaign brings home how caring for a partner with dementia truly fulfils the ultimate marriage vow of ‘in sickness and health’. The campaign doesn’t shrink from shining a light on the harsh realities of living with dementia, while showing how love has its own extraordinary power to shine through the darkest times and uplift battered spirits.
My mum had dementia so I know how tough it can be. She died before the illness fully progressed, but my sister and I had direct, personal experience of the growing challenges it presents.
"There’s a huge sense of hope that’s unmistakably transmitted by the couples involved in this extraordinarily moving campaign - and that’s directly thanks to Alzheimer’s Society. Because of their support, people don’t have to face dementia alone.”
With around 900.000 people nationwide living with dementia, and 39,000 across the North East, the charity is hoping to encourage people to support its work - which helps both those with dementia and there carers.
Helen Mayne, area manager for the Alzheimer’s Society in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and Durham, said: "Caring for a partner with dementia is fulfilling the ultimate relationship vow, but navigating your way through ‘in sickness and in health’ can be overwhelming.
"Our vow to people affected by dementia is that we will be there, we will provide hope, and we will help you climb those mountains. But we simply can’t reach everyone and that’s why we’re calling on the public to donate. This is not a problem that is going away – the number of people living with dementia is only going up."
Anyone with questions or concerns is advised to head to alzheimers.org.uk to learn more and to donate.
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