MP Andy Burnham signs dementia-friendly pledge as roadshow comes to Leigh

The Leigh MP and Labour's candidate for the upcoming Greater Manchester mayoral election vowed to make the city region the best place to live for people affected by dementia at his manifesto launch last week.

He said: “Dementia is one of the biggest health and care challenges our country faces – too many people are not getting the support they deserve and are entitled to.

"With growing numbers of people living with dementia in Greater Manchester we all have a part to play by making our communities more dementia-friendly.

"Following my announcement last week that if elected mayor in May I would work towards making Greater Manchester the first dementia-friendly city region in the UK, I was pleased to visit the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Community Roadshow today to pledge my support for people affected by the condition.

"Too many people with dementia live in communities that do not support and include them, and with dementia a priority for Greater Manchester devolution it is vital that we showcase the ways we can all play our part in making Greater Manchester a great place for people with dementia to live.”

Mr Burnham was joined by Alzheimer’s Society staff, supporters and people living with dementia at the roadshow in Leigh town centre.

Jane Welch, stakeholder relations manager at Alzheimer's Society, said: “We were delighted to see Andy and his team build on his manifesto commitment last week and come along to our Dementia Community Roadshow today to meet service users and staff and to sign a pledge in support of people affected by dementia.

"Whoever is elected in May we are looking forward to working with the new mayor to improve the experience of people living with dementia in Greater Manchester.”

For more information about the roadshow, which began in 2011 and has reached more than 185,000 people across the UK, visit alzheimers.org.uk/roadshow.