MP, Ian Wright turned bingo caller for the night at the Carlton Bingo hall in Hartlepool in aid of a charity event that was set up by the bingo club to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society and to boost awareness of how number crunching games like bingo can bring benefits to people. Regular bingo players of the bingo club were treated to a visit from their towns MP and while he was their he turned his hand to bingo caller, he picked up the microphone to call out the bingo numbers for this charity event that proved to be a big success for all that participated in it.

The Carlton Bingo hall had teamed up with the Alzheimer’s society to coincide with the “Alzheimer’s Awareness week” that ended on Saturday. Their society is leading the fight against dementia and they are the leading UK charity support this cause. It has been said in the past that bingo games can help to keep your mind active, so bingo and the Alzheimer’s society made a good combination to help raise awareness for their plight.

There are over 100 different types of dementia, the most common of which are Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. They can affect people’s memory’s, cause problems with their speech and understanding as well as causing confusion.  The manager of Carlton Hartlepool John Cowlishaw,, said: "Players and staff at Carlton, Hartlepool, were delighted that Iain Wright was able to join us for this special event. Research shows that taking part in activities like bingo exercises the mind, boosts your brain power and can stave off the onset of dementia. The response of our players to the charity game was excellent and I know that many of them were only too pleased to see their local MP up their calling the numbers in support of this important cause."

Mr Wright (MP) said: "Meeting the players and staff and having the chance to raise some money for the Alzheimer's Society was a great way of highlighting impact of dementia on families throughout Hartlepool. Dementia affects thousands of people every year and can be devastating for those left to care for their loved ones during the most difficult of times.  Hopefully, through initiatives like this, we can develop a greater understanding of dementia and do more for those people diagnosed and their friends and families."

The Alzheimer’s Society have their own web site, so should you need any information relating to this illness then you should find their online site very helpful.