A 94-year-old grandfather dresses up as Father Christmas to raise money for Alzheimer's charity

Determined to have fun and spread Christmas cheer, a 94-year-old grandfather has raised hundreds of pounds for Alzheimer’s Research UK by dressing up as Father Christmas.

Stanley Bennett, who previously raised over £1,200 by dressing up as the Easter Bunny, took to his local supermarket dressed as Father Christmas in the hope of raising money and spreading Christmas cheer.

The great-grandfather of two was inspired to put a smile on people’s faces this Christmas after reading a “depressing” newspaper article which suggested “life is over” for people in care homes.

Through his quirky fundraising, Mr Bennett hopes to bring the “wonderful” care homes, including Stanley Wilson Lodge where he lives, to the public’s attention.

He said: “I kept reading articles that suggested the quality of care in homes is always very poor and life is over once you’re there.

“But I could not fault the help my wife received, and I’ve been given a new lease of life while living there. And now I’m giving something back.”

Mr Bennett’s wife passed away in September 2014, having been diagnosed with vascular dementia ten years earlier.

Mr Bennett moved with her to Stanley Wilson Lodge so that he could see her every day and says he has had a great experience there over the past few years.

His granddaughter said: “My nan was a tiny, feisty, Scottish lady. In my grandparents’ relationship, she would always take the lead.

‘I want to make people smile over Christmas time’

“When my grandmother died, instead of sitting in the care home my gramps decided to make the most of life, something which I am so proud of him for.

“He’s very determined to raise money to help dementia research.”

Mr Bennett, who is described as “large than life” and very active despite requiring a frame for walking, added: “I want to get out there and spread the word about both Alzheimer’s Research UK’s ground-breaking work, the wonderful care home I live in and most of all I want to make people smile over Christmas time.”

Jessica Hiscocks, regional fundraising officer for Alzheimer’s Research UK, extended her thanks to Mr Bennett, thanking him for getting into the spirit of Christmas and cheering everyone up.

She said: “At the moment there are 850,000 people across the UK living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including more than 20,000 in Essex.

“We rely on public donations and it’s thanks to people like Stanley that Alzheimer’s Research UK is able to continue its pioneering work into finding treatments and preventions for dementia.”