A POIGNANT talk has inspired care professionals and carers.

Lostock Lodge Care Home welcomed guest speaker Tommy Whitelaw to talk about his campaign to raise awareness of dementia.

Tommy cared for his late mum Joan from vascular dementia for five years and in 2011 walked around Scotland collecting hundreds of life story letters from relatives caring for loved ones with this incurable disease.

His talk entitled 'You Can Make A Difference' was attended by local organisations including Admiral Nurses, Radio Northwich, Home Instead, Active Cheshire, Co-op Funeralcare, Age UK representatives, hospital workers, social workers and occupational therapists.

Home manager Jenny Jobber said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to Tommy for spending the day here with us. We feel truly blessed to have shared his inspirational talk and be able to help spread the message of ‘You can make a difference’ to those living with dementia.”

Kim Smith, from Radio Northwich, said: “It was one of the most inspiring talks I have ever heard. I met a lovely lady and ended up hugging and in tears of emotion. Tommy you are one amazing and special guy."

One woman said: “It was a brilliant talk, his passion shone through."

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Tommy has engaged with thousands of carers through his Tommy on Tour blog and as UK project lead with the Health and Social Care Alliance’s Dementia Carer Voices project.

He has spoken to health and social care professionals and carer organisations to raise awareness of the impact of dementia on families and the importance of empowering carers in carrying out their difficult but vital role.

The project’s campaign has now reached around 180,000 people across 900 talks, collecting 23,500 pledges to make a difference.