An invitation to the Great Tea Day Comeback

After two long years, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) is inviting everyone to come together again for a cup of tea, a chat and maybe a treat or two on Thursday, May 5, to help raise funds for vital dementia supports and services.

The ASI is asking the people of Mayo to get involved with local tea day events in their homes, gardens, workplaces, schools, local community centres or somewhere special.

The traditional Alzheimer’s Tea Day was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19, and the event had to be moved online.

But now, Alzheimer’s Tea Day, the ASI’s biggest and most important fundraiser, is back.

For the first time in three years, after so much time in isolation with many feeling lonely and alone, the ASI wants people to host their very own tea day and help tea day make a comeback!

The ASI aims to raise vital funds to provide supports and services to help families living with dementia nationwide.

There are an estimated 2,279 people living with dementia in Mayo and each year more than 11,000 people develop the disease across the country – that’s at least 30 people every day. However, there is one thing you can do to help – you can put the kettle on and host your very own tea day!

By supporting tea day, you can make an incredible difference: €10 provides an hour at an Alzheimer’s cafe for a person with dementia; €35 provides one hour of cognitive stimulation therapy; €70 provides a session of musical therapy; and €150 runs a social club for one day. If you can’t host a tea day this year, you can still support dementia care and services by making a donation on Alzheimer.ie.

ASI ambassador Dáithí Ó Sé said: “I’m delighted to support Alzheimer’s Tea Day again this year. Can you believe it? It’s been three years since we’ve been able to gather for a proper tea day get-together. So let’s make up for lost time, lost connections, and lost funds and come together to make 2022 the Great Tea Day Comeback year.

“We want everyone to have a chat, a laugh, a brew and donate a few euro to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s Tea Day campaign to help provide essential dementia-specific services for the 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland.

“The sad truth is that the last two years have been particularly difficult for those living with dementia. Across the board, the decrease in routine and social engagement has caused a decline in the health of so many. That’s why now it’s so important that we make sure everyone has the support they need.

“Alzheimer’s and dementia is a nationwide issue – it affects so many families right across Ireland. It reaches across generations, genders and affects people of all kinds of backgrounds. By hosting your very own tea day on May 5, you’ll be making it possible for those living with dementia and their carers to access vital supports.

“Tea brings us all together – and we need that more than ever right now. Register for your pack at www.teaday.ie today and get the kettle on to make your strongest cup of tea yet!”

TV presenter, reporter and ASI ambassador Sinead Kennedy added: “I’m excited to team up with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland again to support their tea day campaign. The traditional Alzheimer’s Tea Day has been cancelled these past two years due to Covid-19, so it’s fantastic that people can come together once again in this Great Tea Day Comeback.

“Dementia is a huge issue for our society. Every day, at least 30 people are diagnosed with dementia in Ireland – even people in their 30s, 40s or 50s. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland provides supports and services in local communities around Ireland, including dementia advisers, day care, home care, family carer training, social clubs and Alzheimer cafés. But every day, the pressure on these services is growing as the demand increases. We can all help to make a difference.

“Join us on May 5 to raise much-needed funds so more people across Ireland who are living with dementia can access the supports and services they need.”

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland interim CEO Siobhan O’Connor said: “We are so pleased that Alzheimer’s Tea Day, our biggest and most important fundraising event of the year, is making a comeback. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we had to celebrate it online these past two years but now people can finally gather again for tea day.

“The ASI really depends on the funds that the event generates each year to ensure our support services are maintained. We are asking the nation to support us and to get involved in this Great Tea Day Comeback in any way they can, whether it’s by hosting their very own tea day or making a donation on Alzheimer.ie.

“Funds raised will make an incredible difference to the lives of people living with dementia and their carers. We are extremely grateful for all the continued support and we are so pleased to welcome back our wonderful ambassadors Dáithí Ó Sé and Sinead Kennedy to support our tea day campaign once again.”