Charity calls on crafters to break world record and raise money for Alzheimer's research

Alzheimer’s Research UK is calling on charitable crafters across the globe to get involved in its attempt to break a world record by knitting, crocheting and sewing snakes.

Hoping to break the world record for the longest line of soft toys – which currently stands at 1,000 – Libby Swindells, a sheltered scheme manager at Wellgreen Lodge in Hale, organised the Slither of Snakes campaign to craft and sell snakes, raising funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Ms Swindells is no stranger to international campaigns, having overseen the creation of 14,000 knitted mice in 2014, raising over £10,000 for dementia charities.

She said: “I’m really excited about this new challenge. I hope people everywhere will join in and help us make as many snakes as possible.

“The money we raise will all go to Alzheimer’s Research UK to help find a way to stop dementia. Having worked with older people for 30 years, I know the impact that this awful condition can have.”

Everyone is invited to get involved in the campaign, no matter where they are in the world, by knitting, crocheting or sewing snakes no more than 20 inches in length and sending them to Ms Swindells.

Residents at Wellgreen Lodge are also getting involved in the challenge, including one 91-year-old who is living with Alzheimer’s.

Gillian Edwards, regional fundraising officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to Libby and everyone taking part in this huge crafting challenge.

“It’s brilliant to see so many people coming together to defeat dementia. When there are 47 million people across the world living with dementia, it’s important we do everything we can to stop it.”

The world record attempt will take place on 9 April, where snakes will be displayed in a mandala shape in the Altrincham Football Ground sports hall.

For more information, search for Slither of Snakes on Facebook.