Fund raising can be fun and profitable with a little enthusiasm and ingenuity. However, running a successful fundraising event requires effort, planning and a lot of hard work. Some activities will be simple such as traditional raffles which can be done several times a year; other events will take more time and effort and can only be done annually or even bi-annually. Despite the hard work, large events can be fun, profitable and very worthwhile!

We've just released a 4 step fund-raising plan to get you started!

• Fund-Raising Step 1 | Fund-raising Ideas
• Fund-Raising Step 2 | How to plan a fund-raising activity
• Fund-Raising Step 3 | Putting together a fund-Raising Strategy Plan
• Fund-Raising Step 4 | Putting your plan in action

Cheers!

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Last month the media reported exciting news on research into neurodegenerative disorders which includes Alzheimer's Disease. I was rather excited about it and for the sake of those who may have missed it, here is a summary of the latest findings.

At the International Alzheimer's Conference in Hawaii last month British scientists disclosed that they are developing a simple and inexpensive blood test that can identify Alzheimer's Disease up to ten years before symptoms appear. The test, which could be available in three years, would give families more time to prepare for the future.

In the same conference, US scientists proposed that they would like to see: "tests like brain scans to become the default method of testing for the condition, instead of waiting for physical symptoms to appear". They added: "New diagnosis guidelines would take into account the pre-clinical stage, when clumps of the protein amyloid are just beginning to form in the brains of people who are otherwise healthy. This indicator appears around ten years before dementia sets in and is seen as the most effective time to intervene in the disease."

More interesting news on neurodegenerative disease was revealed by biologists Gizem Donmos, Leonard Guarente and colleagues from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). They reported that the first link between amyloid plaques, which form in the brain of Alzheimer's patients, and a gene previously implicated in the ageing process called SIRT had been discovered. Researchers studying the SIRT gene, which produces sirtuin proteins that are thought to extend the life span of laboratory animals, found that by activating the production of sirtuin in mice it suppressed the disease and by destroying it, made it worse. This finding raises new hope of a treatment for Alzheimer's Disease in the future. Diseases such as Parkinson's and Huntington's will also benefit from drugs that activate sirtuin.

Other predictors of Alzheimer's were also discussed at the Conference in Hawaii such as spinal fluid tests and new imaging agents for PET scans. These tests are not as yet validated and recommendations for its adoption are yet to come. The good news is that a draft proposal that would update the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease for the first time in 25 years has been presented to Alzheimer's experts for consideration.

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We've just released an exciting new feature on the Golden Carers website - The Postcard Exchange Program

Suggested by one of our members, the postcard exchange program is a means of connecting with other facilities. Your residents will love receiving postcards from other facilities and the opportunity to make new friends.

How do you join the postcard exchange program?

1. Visit the Postcard Exchange Program page and login to Golden Carers.
2. Choose 'yes' to participate and type in a short description to display to other members. Click the update button.
3. Browse through the list of other participating members and click the 'Make Contact' link to send an email to another member.

Enjoy! A big thanks to Kerry from Western Australia for this fabulous idea.

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