Today marks Red Lippy Day - a campaign designed to raise funds for specialist dementia nurses, working in partnership with Dementia UK.

Jules Osmany, from Northampton, launched #redlippyday in 2015 after her mother, who has advanced vascular dementia, lost her speech as a result of a stroke.

 

The last thing her mother did before losing her speech was ask for a red lipstick. 

For the last three years, Jules has watched her mother living with advanced dementia and is today raising awareness for a second year running through Red Lippy Day in a bid to raise funds.

 

Jules commented: “My wonderful glamorous Mum, Gloria, always wore her red lippy, and had the most dazzling smile at the school gates. Let's celebrate the age when all our mums, aunts, and grandmothers wore their red lippy and felt as wonderful as the film stars they emulated in their heyday!”

Last year the campaign, run in aid of Dementia UK, raised over £13,000 and Jules hopes to do the same this year.

Speaking to Tomorrow’s Care about #redlippyday Martin Bishop, Director Fundraising and Communications, Dementia UK commented: “Red Lippy Day is about raising funds for more specialist dementia Admiral Nurses. It’s really important for Admiral Nurses to be recognised as there’s not enough support available to families living with dementia. 

“The Admiral Nursing model is proven to give carers the emotional support and skills they need for preventing crises, and this helps to reduce the contact time of affected families’ with GPs, hospitals and social workers - reducing health and social care costs.” 

Dementia UK’s youngest fundraiser is seven-year-old Tommy Fraser, from Medway in Kent, whose dad Ian Fraser, 49 was diagnosed with early onset dementia. 

To show his support Tommy is running a bake sale today at his school, Maundene Primary, in Walderslade, Kent to help raise funds for more specialist dementia nurses.

Speaking to Dementia UK, Tommy commented: “I miss my Dad, I miss him and how he used to be. My mum told me there is no cure for Alzheimer’s and all we have is hope. I want more than hope; I want to save my Dad. I want to play in the park with him again. I want him to take me to the sweet shop and let me get all the sweets my mum won’t let me have! This is why I want to campaign, because I need help to find a cure!”

The Dementia UK team have also thrown their weight behind the campaign by puckering up and popping on their best lippy. 

Jules Osmany and Dementia UK are encouraging everyone to get involved by posting their lipstick selfies on social media and texting REDL53 to 70070 to donate or visiting the Just Giving page.