David Van Day launches Cambridge dementia campaign

A leading television star and former singer has highlighted the importance of effective care for people with dementia, it has been reported.

David Van Day, star of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and former member of Dollar, has announced the launch of a new appeal in Cambridge to help those with the condition, the Cambridge News has revealed.

He explained that his support for the initiative is due to his own personal experience of the impact that the condition had on his own family.

Mr Van Day said: "My mother has Alzheimer's disease so I know how devastating an illness it can be – it not only affects the person diagnosed, but their friends and family too."

His comments come as the Alzheimer's Society has announced that half-a-million people will have undiagnosed dementia by 2021. It has joined together with Tesco and Alzheimer Scotland to launch the campaign, which aims to raise diagnosis levels from 40 per cent by 2014.

Find out more about Alzheimer's disease care at Barchester homes.