SIR,

I wondered if Mr David Price (Letters 17/09/08) has

had any dealings with anyone who has Alzheimer's

Disease when I read his letter in the Beacon regarding the

charity collections in Waitrose.

My partner was diagnosed with Alzheimer's last year

and he is just 59 years of age. This terrible, vile disease

has turned a funny, articulate and highly intelligent man

into someone who can barely write his name or take care

of himself in the most basic way.

Although I agree that youth clubs and yes, even

horses, are important, I feel that at 59 my partner and the

increasing number of younger people who are being

diagnosed with this disease, should not be begrudged any

effort to help them.

Young people have all their lives ahead of them and

we hope that research done with money raised now will

ensure that they do not have to face the consequences of

this disease in the future.

Unfortunately, my partner is condemned to a life of

stigma and confusion as things stand at the moment and

without these collections and donations, his life would be

even worse.

Monmouthshire resident