IN THE BEGINNING
I am Jane Moore from Camelford, Cornwall, UK and my mother Elsie was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia. At the beginning of 2012 I clicked on the Dementia Aware facebook site and became friends with Norman McNamara from Devon, UK. Norrms was diagnosed with dementia at 50yrs and his wife and carer is Elaine, his "Angel". He was raising awareness of dementia in Torbay, his home town, and asked if anyone could design a logo to be presented to shops and businesses who understand how they can support and help people with dementia, carers and families . I doodled the angel and coloured it purple and Norrm added his flair. (From a color psychology perspective, purple and violet promote harmony of the mind and the emotions, contributing to mental balance and stability, peace of mind, a link between the spiritual and the physical worlds, between thought and activity.)
THE PURPLE ANGEL WAS BORN!
Norman's success spurred me on to visit my local shops in Camelford, asking all staff to read The Guide To Understanding Dementia written by Norrms.
I was supported by the REPoD; The Advent Horse Show, Webbers Estate Agents; Neetside Community Center; Tintagel Garden Club and others who all helped with funding the printing for stickers and posters.I grew some plants, made some cakes and held car boot sales too. .
Virtually everyone I met was happy to join in and I visited shops, schools, Doctor Surgeries, First Responders, pubs, Police, hotels, scouts and other large organisations such as the WI, Rotary Clubs and U3A - in fact, anyone who would listen!
Over 700 shops and businesses in my local towns of Camelford, Launceston, Bude and St Austell have also now committed to support people with dementia and are re-visited every year with updates and further information.
Newquay, Looe and Truro have also joined with Purple Angel to raise awareness in their towns!
Our many friends on the internet were in awe of the new emblem and across the world people adopted the Purple Angel emblem as their guardian, giving support and hope. This is free to use for all raising awareness of dementia.
Over 1200 ambassadors from 58 countries around the world are now "flying" the angel and spreading awareness in their own ways. Memory cafes are being set up, training is taking place in hospitals and Purple Cities Alliance aims to join other cities across the globe together in one mission:
Raising awareness of dementia and symbolizing hope.
I am Jane Moore from Camelford, Cornwall, UK and my mother Elsie was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia. At the beginning of 2012 I clicked on the Dementia Aware facebook site and became friends with Norman McNamara from Devon, UK. Norrms was diagnosed with dementia at 50yrs and his wife and carer is Elaine, his "Angel". He was raising awareness of dementia in Torbay, his home town, and asked if anyone could design a logo to be presented to shops and businesses who understand how they can support and help people with dementia, carers and families . I doodled the angel and coloured it purple and Norrm added his flair. (From a color psychology perspective, purple and violet promote harmony of the mind and the emotions, contributing to mental balance and stability, peace of mind, a link between the spiritual and the physical worlds, between thought and activity.)
THE PURPLE ANGEL WAS BORN!
Norman's success spurred me on to visit my local shops in Camelford, asking all staff to read The Guide To Understanding Dementia written by Norrms.
I was supported by the REPoD; The Advent Horse Show, Webbers Estate Agents; Neetside Community Center; Tintagel Garden Club and others who all helped with funding the printing for stickers and posters.I grew some plants, made some cakes and held car boot sales too. .
Virtually everyone I met was happy to join in and I visited shops, schools, Doctor Surgeries, First Responders, pubs, Police, hotels, scouts and other large organisations such as the WI, Rotary Clubs and U3A - in fact, anyone who would listen!
Over 700 shops and businesses in my local towns of Camelford, Launceston, Bude and St Austell have also now committed to support people with dementia and are re-visited every year with updates and further information.
Newquay, Looe and Truro have also joined with Purple Angel to raise awareness in their towns!
Our many friends on the internet were in awe of the new emblem and across the world people adopted the Purple Angel emblem as their guardian, giving support and hope. This is free to use for all raising awareness of dementia.
Over 1200 ambassadors from 58 countries around the world are now "flying" the angel and spreading awareness in their own ways. Memory cafes are being set up, training is taking place in hospitals and Purple Cities Alliance aims to join other cities across the globe together in one mission:
Raising awareness of dementia and symbolizing hope.
A LONG TIME AGO.....A long time ago I thought I knew life and what it held for me. What I didn't know was the plan that fate had for me despite what I felt I was destined for! Now in my later years, just when I thought I knew it all, surprises lurk around every corner. In June 2016 my mother's fight was over and she remains here in my heart. For years my mother looked after me, cared for me and loved me. For the ten years we coped together I have learned a great deal and people can live a better life once diagnosed if we just have a little understanding of how to cope. My life has took on a course not of my making. I hate dementia but still there are things about this illness that inspire me and lift my expectations of human nature; make me smile and give me a new perspective on my mother's old and new personalities. I was her memory, the thinker; the doer. I have met many wonderful caring people since the start of Purple Angel and have seen how much people with dementia have to give.
They give far more than anyone can imagine. They have such enthusiasm; perseverance, wit and courage.
I thought Purple Angel was here to raise awareness of the symptoms of these horrific diseases but really the Purple Angel has arrived for us all. People with dementia can teach us all so much. To really know another person so well and to give that person their memories back is a privilege. A new life and a new world. Discoveries every single day. To really know and understand another human being eludes all of us until we meet adversity. Remembering names and places doesn't matter any more. They are small fry! What does matter is that we find unconditional love and acceptance of the things which are said or done that don't fit in with our own expectations or perception.
Raising awareness of dementia will undoubtedly affect all mankind and not just those are directly involved. It will have a very profound effect on all. It brings a community together, teaches us all to understand another person, to have patience and give support. We are all different and our brains can tell us to be mindful that others sometimes see things in a different way, whether they have dementia or not. We will learn to accept the differences and learn to love all people for who they are. BELOW ARE SOME OF THE LOCAL LOGOS.
They give far more than anyone can imagine. They have such enthusiasm; perseverance, wit and courage.
I thought Purple Angel was here to raise awareness of the symptoms of these horrific diseases but really the Purple Angel has arrived for us all. People with dementia can teach us all so much. To really know another person so well and to give that person their memories back is a privilege. A new life and a new world. Discoveries every single day. To really know and understand another human being eludes all of us until we meet adversity. Remembering names and places doesn't matter any more. They are small fry! What does matter is that we find unconditional love and acceptance of the things which are said or done that don't fit in with our own expectations or perception.
Raising awareness of dementia will undoubtedly affect all mankind and not just those are directly involved. It will have a very profound effect on all. It brings a community together, teaches us all to understand another person, to have patience and give support. We are all different and our brains can tell us to be mindful that others sometimes see things in a different way, whether they have dementia or not. We will learn to accept the differences and learn to love all people for who they are. BELOW ARE SOME OF THE LOCAL LOGOS.