Hereford Crematorium has handed over a cheque for £10,000 to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
The crematorium has been part of a national metal recycling scheme since 2011, and has so far donated over £94,000 to various local charities.
Bernie Carranza, Alzheimer’s Research UK Regional Fundraising Officer for the West Midlands, said:
“We are hugely grateful for this generous donation from Hereford Crematorium through the Metals recycling scheme, it will make a huge difference to our work, particularly as we are predicting up to a 45% decrease in funds this year as a result of COVID-19.
"One in two people know someone who is affected by dementia and one in three people born today will go on to develop dementia, unless we find new ways to treat and prevent the condition. It is, therefore, vitally important that we can continue our work to raise awareness about and fund research into the diseases that cause dementia. Our mission is to bring about the first life-changing dementia treatment by 2025, and this donation will be a huge boost to this.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact across all walks of life in the UK, including scientific research. Many dementia research labs had to temporarily close and, while some studies had to stop, dementia scientists continued to work from home. As restrictions have eased, many labs have started to slowly reopen and research that your support helps to fund is restarting in a COVID-19 secure way."
The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) launched their metal recycling scheme in 2005 as a way to recycle the metal recovered from cremated remains instead of burying them. Participating crematoria are asked to nominate a local bereavement charity to be given a share of surplus monies from the recycling process. Cheques are presented twice each year.
The service is provided at no cost to crematoria who have signed up to the scheme and metals are not recycled without the next of kin’s permission, which is sought at the time of the funeral arrangements.
Tracy Morris, Bereavement Service Supervisor at Hereford Cemetery, said:
“We’re very proud to be part of the scheme. This is our largest cheque to date and with over 3,300 people in Herefordshire living with dementia, we’re pleased that it is going to such a worthy cause that will benefit so many people locally. We accept charity nominations all year round, so if you would like to put your charity forward for consideration, please email the Crematorium at bereavement@herefordshire.gov.uk or telephone 01432 383200.
“Nominated charities should be death related and would ideally be local to Herefordshire and not have been nominated within the previous three years.”
Hereford Cemetery is also looking for new volunteer groundspeople. By joining as a volunteer, you can become an important part of our team, learn new skills, meet new people and play a vital role in helping to preserve Hereford Cemetery as a place of historic interest and beauty.
For more information, visit the Herefordshire Council website.