In 2018 we were moved by the generosity of local resident Malcolm Robertshaw who left £84,000 to Lancaster University in his will. Malcolm’s gift was left to our Defying Dementia campaign, a cause close to his heart. Sadly, Malcolm’s wife lived with vascular dementia and having watched her suffer with this cruel disease, he made the decision to leave some of his estate to help fund research into dementia.

Defying Dementia is a fundraising campaign which aims to make a real difference to people’s lives by tackling the threat presented by brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s. This campaign has sparked the interest of the local community who have been pivotal in helping to raise vital funds to allow researchers at Lancaster to explore a variety of different approaches to confront this terrible disease that damages so many lives.

Malcolm’s legacy will be used to employ a Research Associate in the laboratory for 2 years; the Research Associate will play a pivotal role within the team responsible for progressing a promising Alzheimer’s drug treatment towards human clinical trials.

“Mr Robertshaw’s legacy has supported us to expand our team, and this will have a significant impact on our ability to develop a successful peptide based treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. I am confident that using Mr Robertshaw’s legacy in this way will help us to move ever closer to finding a drug therapy for this cruel disease.”

If you would like more information about leaving a gift to Lancaster University in your will please contact n.fragel@lancaster.ac.uk