The wife of a Dundee United legend who suffers from dementia hopes the support they have received from the public will be shared when she takes her campaign to the Scottish Parliament.
Amanda Kopel has been working on behalf of her husband Frank to get better support for those with early onset dementia and she is now preparing to speak at Holyrood.
She wants to get free personal care extended to sufferers who are under 65 and whose families have to pay for support services like she does.
She said she was “blown away” by the generosity of around 160 people who helped her raise almost £6,000 at a recent fundraising event in Forfar.
Most of the money came from an auction, which included a dress from Lorraine Kelly, and the money will be split and handed to three local services that Frank relies on.
Former Dundee United and Manchester United player Frank was in good spirits on the day and able to attend the fundraiser for around an hour.
Amanda said: “The people of Angus and beyond have really been brilliant. I felt very humbled by it. Lorraine Kelly has been a great, great supporter and her dress was bought by the man who donated footballer Denis Law’s shirt.”
Amanda says she will now focus on the speech she will give to MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s public petitions committee when it considers her petition on Tuesday September 17.
It is an opportunity for her to elaborate and clarify the issues behind the Alzheimer’s petition and help broaden the understanding of the plight sufferers and carers face every day.
Amanda said she was glad she was getting the chance to raise her issue with the people who can make a difference in the lives of people like Frank.
She said: “People think I’m going to go in there all guns blazing but I’m not. I just want to explain how it is for the under 65s and how I want to see change.
“I’m going to start by telling them how I have lost my husband even though he is still alive. Frank’s body is still very strong but his brain is severely damaged.
“This illness is no respecter of age, creed, colour or how much money you have in the bank. People are being diagnosed earlier and earlier and they need help now. Whatever the age, the outcome is the same for everyone,” added Amanda.
She said the change won’t cost the Government that much as there are only around 3,500 sufferers under 65.
She will be joined by Frank’s dementia consultant who will be able to answer any medical questions.
The petition is available at: www.scottish.parliament.uk.