Published 11 April 2023 4 min read
England Women's Senior Team
The Forgotten Third: England team help raise awareness of dementia
Powerful stunt to drive home the reality that one in three people born in the UK will go on to develop dementia
Both the England and Australia teams will play without names on a third of their shirts during the international game between the two sides on Tuesday 11 April, to support Alzheimer’s Society.
The teams will come together to draw attention to the fact that one in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia. That’s one in three who could forget the name of their favourite player or treasured football memory – unthinkable for most fans.
Different players will wear the nameless shirts after half time, to draw attention to the confusion and memory loss often experienced by those living with dementia, before being auctioned. Fans are being encouraged to engage with the stunt using the hashtag #TheForgottenThird
The match, which been dedicated as an ‘Alzheimer’s Society International’, aims to raise vital funds and awareness of the charity’s life-changing support, which offers help and hope to thousands.
The teams will come together to draw attention to the fact that one in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia. That’s one in three who could forget the name of their favourite player or treasured football memory – unthinkable for most fans.
Different players will wear the nameless shirts after half time, to draw attention to the confusion and memory loss often experienced by those living with dementia, before being auctioned. Fans are being encouraged to engage with the stunt using the hashtag #TheForgottenThird
The match, which been dedicated as an ‘Alzheimer’s Society International’, aims to raise vital funds and awareness of the charity’s life-changing support, which offers help and hope to thousands.
Kate Lee, Alzheimer’s Society CEO, said: “We hope by making this simple alternation with this gesture and getting both teams to show a sign of solidarity, we can put an important spotlight on just how much dementia can devastate lives.
“I hope it makes a massive impact from the stands to screens, inspiring people to donate so we can reach even more people with our life-changing support, which helps people through some of the hardest and most frightening times.”
The sell-out ‘Alzheimer’s Society International’ will also see a striking mural unveiled at Brentford Stadium by sports correspondent Carrie Brown. The large-scale art installation, designed by MurWalls, will capture key recent moments of England Women’s football – with fans being encouraged to add their most unforgettable memories to the mural.
The fixture will also coincide with the announcement of an extension of the FA’s official charity partnership with Alzheimer’s Society until July 2024.
They will continue to work together to help change the landscape of dementia diagnosis, by funding crucial research and making sure an early diagnosis is accessible to all. The partnership has already made a tangible impact - over the past two seasons, the partnership has raised over £400,000, with thousands more fans, players and staff now knowing where to go to access vital dementia support.
“I hope it makes a massive impact from the stands to screens, inspiring people to donate so we can reach even more people with our life-changing support, which helps people through some of the hardest and most frightening times.”
The sell-out ‘Alzheimer’s Society International’ will also see a striking mural unveiled at Brentford Stadium by sports correspondent Carrie Brown. The large-scale art installation, designed by MurWalls, will capture key recent moments of England Women’s football – with fans being encouraged to add their most unforgettable memories to the mural.
The fixture will also coincide with the announcement of an extension of the FA’s official charity partnership with Alzheimer’s Society until July 2024.
They will continue to work together to help change the landscape of dementia diagnosis, by funding crucial research and making sure an early diagnosis is accessible to all. The partnership has already made a tangible impact - over the past two seasons, the partnership has raised over £400,000, with thousands more fans, players and staff now knowing where to go to access vital dementia support.
ALZHEIMER'S SOCIETY: FIND OUT MORE