Dame Barbara Windsor urges people to run for the Dementia Revolution

Dame Barbara Windsor has spoken on camera about dementia for the first time since being diagnosed in 2014.

The EastEnders star is calling on people to run next year's London Marathon in aid of a campaign to raise funds and change attitudes towards the condition.

Wearing a blue Dementia Revolution T-shirt, the 81-year-old says: “I'm asking you to make a stand against dementia. Use your place to run for Dementia Revolution for Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer's research UK.

“Before we can develop life-changing treatments and ultimately a cure for Alzheimer’s and other causes of dementia, we must first change attitudes. I hope that by sharing my story, I can help raise awareness of this cruel condition and encourage more people to support dementia research.”

In May this year, her husband Scott Mitchell took the brave decision to reveal her illness as it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep it a secret.

When the news first broke, Alzheimer’s Society revealed that visits to its website doubled and there was a 59 per cent increase in online donations.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive officer at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We were saddened to hear that Barbara Windsor had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease - but we applaud her husband Scott’s decision to speak out about her condition.

“Stigma around dementia still exists, and many people are facing it in the shadows. ‘Babs’, a true cultural icon, is much loved, and speaking out about her experiences will no doubt shine as a beacon for others wanting to live well with dementia.”

Since Scott first spoke out five months ago, he revealed there has been an ongoing deterioration in her symptoms.

He told The Sun: “I’m watching Barbara living with it, and it can be very frightening. She’s definitely more confused now.

“We always watch EastEnders and I notice it stirs something up in her. She gets quite tearful a lot of the time. She knows it was a big part of her life and that she asked for her character Peggy Mitchell to be killed off.”

Although Dame Barbara forgets things from time-to-time, Scott said a large part of her has not changed.

“It is her humour I love the most - we have always laughed a lot,” he said.

On 28 April, Scott will spend his 56th birthday running 26 miles across London alongside a few currently unnamed stars of EastEnders who will be supporting their former colleague to help raise funds for dementia research.

Dame Barbara said: “I know that by coming together to support research we will put an end to dementia. So, if you are lucky enough to get a marathon spot in the ballot, I would love you to join me in backing dementia research and select the Dementia Revolution as your chosen charity.”

The money raised during this one-year campaign will help to fund research at the UK Dementia Research Institute. This is a new national institute which brings together 700 top scientists and researchers, all working together to transform the lives of people affected by dementia.

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