Dundee United legend’s wife takes dementia campaign to Holyrood

The woman leading a campaign to get free personal care for people with early onset dementia is to make her case at the Scottish Parliament.

Amanda Kopel, from Kirriemuir, started her campaign after her husband, former Dundee United star Frank Kopel, 64, was diagnosed with the disease in 2009.

As he is under 65 his care is paid for by his family, at a cost of £400 a week, but Amanda wants a change in the law to see all those with the disease receive the same benefits.

She started a petition calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to raise awareness of the daily issues suffered by people with Alzheimer’s and dementia and to ensure that free personal care is made available for all sufferers regardless of age.

Yesterday, she heard she has been successful and will be given the opportunity to make her case before the Scottish Parliament’s public petitions committee.

She said: “I am just overwhelmed. I am delighted they have at least agreed to listen to me.”

Amanda will have just five minutes to convince the committee on Tuesday, September 17 but she said: “Five minutes is enough.”