Look To The Stars News: Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett Knighted, Robert Plant Becomes A Commander

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Several of Britain’s most charitable celebrities were honored by the Queen in her New Years Honors List yesterday.

Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to music. Plant reformed the 70s rockers for a one-off gig in London in 2007 to benefit the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund, which provides students with annual scholarships to universities in the U.S, U.K. and Turkey. The organization was established by the late Ahmed Ertegun, co-founder of Atlantic Records.

“During the Zeppelin years, Ahmed Ertegun was a major foundation of solidarity and accord,” said Plant, now 60. “This performance stands alone as our tribute to the work and the life of our long-standing friend.”

Also honored by the Queen was Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, who is involved in a number of charities, including Cancer Research UK and Honeypot. He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

But the biggest honor went to Fantasy writer Terry Pratchett, who was knighted by Her Majesty. Sir Terry was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2007, and has since donated over a million dollars to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust and has dedicated his life to funding a cure for the disease.

“There are times when phrases such as ‘totally astonished’ just don’t do the job,” he said of his knighthood. “I am of course delighted and honored and, needless to say, flabbergasted.”

The honor has been supported by groups that have benefited from Pratchett’s involvement.

“I would like to congratulate Terry on this fantastic and well-deserved achievement,“ said Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society. “Terry is not only a successful author and well-loved public figure; he is also playing a key role in fighting the misunderstanding and stigma surrounding dementia.”

Terry Pratchett Novel Raises Money For Alzheimer's Charity

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A novel signed by best-selling Fantasy writer Terry Pratchett has raised money for a local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society in the UK.

The book was auctioned at the Woodside Lodge residential home in Bransgore, where it raised £760 for the New Forest branch of the Alzheimer’s Society.

“Woodside Lodge are great supporters of the branch and have raised more than £1,200 for us this year,“ said David High, manager of the New Forest branch of the society. “We will be using the money to help set up new art and music groups and to fund a fourth outreach worker.”

Terry Pratchett – whose DiscWorld novels have been best-sellers around the world – was diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease in December, 2007. He made a donation of $1 million to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust in March, 2008.

“I am, along with many others, scrabbling to stay ahead long enough to be there when the cure comes along,“ said Pratchett. “It is a shock to find out that funding for Alzheimer’s research is just 3% of that to find cancer cures.”

The author has appeared on television and radio to discuss his diagnosis, and is currently working on a documentary series with the BBC that will follow him as he copes with his illness.

“I met Terry at a conference and was delighted when he agreed to sign one of his books, Making Money,“ said Woodside manager Natasha Ketchen. “He’s an excellent ambassador for the society and is trying to remove the stigma faced by people with dementia.”

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, with around 700,000 sufferers in Britain. Although there is no known cure, several organizations provide support. The Alzheimer’s Research Trust is the UK’s leading research charity for dementia, dedicated to funding scientific studies to treat, cure, or prevent Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy Body disease, and fronto-temporal dementia. They rely completely on donations to fund their research.

Terry Pratchett To Present Alzheimer's Petition

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Discworld creator Terry Pratchett will present a petition to Britain’s Prime Minister later today, November 26, calling for higher government funding for research into Alzheimer’s.

The 60-year-old author was diagnosed with a rare, early-onset form of the disease – called posterior cortical atrophy – in December 2007, and has since became a leading figure in the fight for funding and a staunch advocate for research.

The petition has been signed by over 100 scientists and 20,000 members of the public, and Pratchett hopes it will raise awareness of the condition, which currently affects over 700,000 people in the UK yet receives just three per cent of government medical research funding.

“We are facing, to use the term said to me by one of the leading US researchers, a worldwide tsunami of Alzheimer’s and other dementia diseases,” said Pratchett, who is also the patron of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust. “I intend to scream and harangue while there is time. There’s only two ways it can go: researchers, with as much help you can give them, may come up with something that reduces the effects of this dreadful, inhuman disease, or we will have to face the consequences of our failure to prevent the final years of many of us being a long bad dream. The strain on carers and their support is bad enough now; before very long the effects on the health service and society itself, will be unbearable.”

The Alzheimer’s Research Trust is the UK’s leading research charity for dementia, dedicated to funding scientific studies to treat, cure, or prevent Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy Body disease, and fronto-temporal dementia. They rely completely on donations to fund their research.

Terry Pratchett Speaks Out About Alzheimer Treatment

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Author Terry Pratchett has spoken out against the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) decision that limits recipients of Aricept – a cheap and useful drug used to slow progress of Alzheimer’s – to people in the later stages of the disease, not at early stages.

“My wife noticed changes in me after two months on it,” said Pratchett, who was diagnosed with the condition late last year. Feeling lucky that it was discovered early and having seen the improvements from using Aricept, he is frustrated with NICE’s ruling. “I used to fumble with buttons and seat belts. Now I get dressed normally and seat belts slide in first time. Mentally, it’s the difference between a sunny day and an overcast day.”

At a cost of £2.50 per day, the ruling is disappointing to those who cannot afford to pay for the drug privately as they will no longer receive its benefits. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of senile dementia, where a slow loss of nerve cells and nerve contacts impair memory ability and orientation. Mental faculties deteriorate continually causing patients to require help with everyday tasks, lose their personality and fail to recognize even close relatives.

“Alzheimer’s is a particularly unpleasant disease,” said Pratchett in a Contactmusic report. “I don’t know anyone who’s got better from Alzheimer’s. It strips our humanity a bit at a time until you end up a vegetable. It scares people and at 04:00 in the morning it scares me, and Aricept is well worth having for the relief that it brings.”

Pratchett Donation Inspires Grassroots Alzheimer’s Campaign

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Jennifer Beckmann

Best-selling author Terry Pratchett, suffering from a rare form of Alzheimer’s since 2007, gave $1 million to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust in March 2008. Prompted by Pratchett’s philanthropy, a group of loyal readers have formed an online fundraising campaign, Match It For Pratchett.

The goal of the “spontaneous, grassroots, totally unofficial campaign” is to match Pratchett’s $1million donation through public contributions to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, Match It For Pratchett T-shirt sales, and a “Wear the Lilac” pin campaign. In addition to raising funds and awareness for the cause, Match It For Pratchett has also become a hub of information about Alzheimer’s disease and the latest news on Pratchett himself.

Since being diagnosed in December 2007 with a rare, early-onset form of the disease called posterior cortical atrophy, Pratchett – who turned 60 in April – has been a staunch advocate for Alzheimer’s research. Of his diagnosis, Pratchett has said, “I am, along with many others, scrabbling to stay ahead long enough to be there when the cure comes along… It is a shock to find out that funding for Alzheimer’s research is just 3% of that to find cancer cures.” Pratchett has appeared on television and radio to discuss his diagnosis, and is currently working on a documentary series with the BBC that will follow him as he copes with his illness.

In response to Pratchett’s donation and advocacy, Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, emphasized the urgent need for awareness and research. She said, “Whilst we were deeply saddened to learn of Mr Pratchett’s diagnosis, we are delighted that he has chosen to speak out about his experiences with Alzheimer’s disease, to raise awareness about its impact and the desperate need for more research. Research is the only way to beat this disease and help people like Terry – to prevent them losing their thinking skills and keep them doing the things they love.”

Match It For Pratchett is determined to harness the power of the Internet and the passion of grassroots advocates to spread this message across the world. In addition to offering donation opportunities, the organization also encourages people to raise awareness about the cause through blogs, Facebook, and other online applications.

More information can be found at www.matchitforpratchett.org.

Discworld Author Donates To Alzheimer's Research

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:48:10 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Author Terry Pratchett has pledged a donation of $1 million to research into Alzheimer’s disease, the degenerative brain disorder he has suffered from for the last few years.

The 59-year-old creator of the “Discworld” series announced the donation at an Alzheimer’s Research Trust conference in Bristol late last week.

“I have had Alzheimer’s now for the past two years plus,” said Pratchett. “It’s a nasty disease, surrounded by shadows and small – largely unseen – tragedies. There’s nearly as many of us as there are cancer sufferers, and it looks as if the number of people with the disease will double within a generation. It’s a shock and a shame to find out that funding for research is three per cent of that which goes to find cancer cures.”

Pratchett revealed he had a rare form of the disease in a message on his website in December, which shocked his many fans.

“Soon after I told the world, my website fell over,” he said. “I had more than 60,000 messages in the first few hours.”

“Let’s shout something loud enough to hear,” said Pratchett during his speech to the Research Trust. “We need you and
you need money. I’m giving you a million dollars. Spend it wisely.”

To make a donation to the Trust, visit www.alzheimers-research.org.uk.

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