STAFF at Williton-based Magna Housing have chosen the Alzheimer’s Society as the charity to benefit from £800 raised from dress-down collections held over the last year. 

Karenza Frear nominated the charity as one that is very close to her heart. Its website proved particularly helpful when her father was diagnosed with advanced Lewy bodies dementia last year.

“It provided comprehensive and easy to use guidance on how to navigate through the whole the process from hospital discharge to what care and benefits were available.

“It also provided advice on the range of symptoms associated with the illness and how to best to manage them,” said Karenza.

The £800 was collected from staff across Dorset and Somerset. At the end of each month, office-based staff pay £1 each to wear casual clothes to work. 

Alzheimer’s Society community fundraiser for Dorset and Somerset, Sian Neville, said: “We’d love other businesses and organisations to give this a go.

“Dementia devastates lives, but dementia won’t win. Until the day we find a cure, we will be here for anyone affected by dementia, wherever they are, whatever they’re going through.

“We need more people like Magna Housing to join us now and unite against dementia.”