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Andy Halliday and Mark Warburton presented Alzheimer Scotland, the country’s leading charity for dementia care, with £25,000 on behalf of the Rangers Charity Foundation in support of three of the charity’s vital projects – the 24 Hour Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000), the Dementia Friends initiative and the Football Memories Project.

Alzheimer Scotland was the Foundation’s National Charity Partner for season 2015/16 and in addition to this significant financial support the Foundation also raised the profile of the charity with fans and the general public, including organising a special video with first team players to raise awareness of dementia and encouraging staff and supporters to become Dementia Friends.

Andy Halliday commented, “Dementia is something that touches so many lives so it’s great that the fans have backed the Foundation’s partnership with Alzheimer Scotland this season and made this donation possible.  I know supporters have signed up in their hundreds to take on challenges such as the True Blue Hero Fun Run and have also attended Foundation events and done dozens of other things to help.”

Rachel Smith, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Alzheimer Scotland, added: “We are grateful to Rangers supporters and to the Rangers Charity Foundation for all their support over the past year to help us tackle dementia and raise this valuable contribution. 

“Every 3 seconds, someone in the world develops dementia. As well as raising awareness of our services including the 24-Hour Dementia Helpline and of our flagship dementia friends movement, we set out to encourage more people to talk and get informed about dementia and take action to help raise vital funds.

“We have been delighted with the partnership and thank everyone involved for supporting our goal to make sure nobody faces dementia alone.”

Connal Cochrane, Director of the Rangers Charity Foundation commented: “With over 90,000 people in Scotland living with dementia and the number set to double in a generation, the Foundation wanted to help Alzheimer Scotland get their important messages out to the wider public, as well as support some of their key initiatives with a donation.

“We have shared messaging on social media on dementia facts, the helpline and Dementia Friends, shot a special video with Rangers first team players and arranged a ‘matchday takeover’ which included a can collection, distribution of information leaflets and posters and adverts featured throughout the Stadium and in the matchday programme,

“Customer-facing staff at the Club and Foundation also took part in training to help us become a more Dementia Friendly organisation and we’ve encouraged fans to learn more too by logging onto the Dementia Friends website.”

“The special charity partnership approach we have at the Rangers Charity Foundation is something we are very proud of and I am delighted that we have been able to assist Alzheimer Scotland in so many ways”.

To find out more about the partnership with Alzheimer Scotland and the project’s supported, click here.