Ahead of the Sir Jackie Stewart Tribute Event tonight, Dementia Australia celebrates and thanks Sir Jackie Stewart OBE for his commitment to raising awareness and vital funds to support people living with dementia, their families and carers.
To coincide with the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, an event to celebrate Sir Jackie will be held in his honour at Centrepiece at Melbourne Park, to raise funds for Race Against Dementia - Dementia Australia Research Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowships.
The Chair of the Dementia Australia Research Foundation, Professor Graeme Samuel AC thanked Sir Jackie for his extraordinary leadership in supporting dementia research.
"With an estimated half a million Australians living with dementia and the disease being the second leading cause of death of Australians and the leading cause of death of Australian women, research into dementia is now more urgent than ever," Professor Samuel said.
"We acknowledge and thank Sir Jackie and Race Against Dementia for their generous support of dementia research and look forward to continuing this valuable relationship."
Earlier this year, Race Against Dementia and the Dementia Australia Research Foundation announced Dr Karissa Barthelson as the recipient of the 'Race Against Dementia - Dementia Australia Research Foundation Post-doctoral Fellowship' programme.
Dr Karissa Barthelson received an award valued at $405,000 AUD in total, over three years, which will cover salary and project expenses to explore the similarities between adult and childhood-onset dementias.
Sir Jackie, a Dementia Australia Patron, said he was delighted to work with Dementia Australia to fund dementia research.
"Since my wife, Helen, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2014, I have tried to encourage more and better research into dementia. This disease kills so many people - we need to find more effective ways of dealing with it. We need more action and more financial support now," Sir Jackie said.
"The race is on - we must beat this terrible disease before even more people, and their families, have to face dementia. This is the greatest challenge of my life."
The Dementia Australia Research Foundation is the research arm of Dementia Australia, which provides funding to support new and emerging dementia researchers. In 2021, $4.5 million in funding was allocated to support Project and Pilot Grants and Post-doctoral and Mid-career Research Fellowships (Dementia Grants Program - Round 1). Details of funding opportunities are available at www.dementia.org.au/research/grants
Race Against Dementia (RAD) is a registered charity in England and Wales (1165559), founded by Sir Jackie Stewart, OBE. Race Against Dementia raises and allocates monies to research into a prevention or cure for dementia, and currently funds and supports ten post-doctoral early career dementia researchers through the RAD Fellowship Programme. RAD encourages collaboration with forward-thinking teams in Formula One, as well as other innovative organisations, to bring the dynamic attitude, dedication and agility of Grand Prix teamwork to drive results in dementia research.
The Race Against Dementia Fellowship Programme provides both funding and outstanding development opportunities for early career dementia scientists.
