Around 2,000 F1 fans and charity champions from across the kingdom stepped forward at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) yesterday for a ‘One Lap Challenge’ in support of Race Against Dementia (RAD).
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The event was organised by the British Embassy in collaboration with Formula 1 and the Bahrain Olympic Committee.
Founded by Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, after his wife Helen’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, Race Against Dementia funds researchers to accelerate progress towards a cure for dementia.
British ambassador Alastair Long greeted supporters of all ages who braved the heat to participate. “It was a real privilege to see the circuit one week before the grand prix weekend,” he said. “It looked stunning and it was such a nice vibe. You had little children on scooters, adults running and people walking in fancy costume for the cause,” he told the GDN.
Race Against Dementia chair Mark Stewart travelled to the kingdom to attend the event, along with other family members, and also thanked the attendees for the support they had shown.
Former football coach and Liverpool playing legend Steven Gerrard, who now resides in Bahrain with his family, also attended and flagged off the race before running the track himself.
Legend has it that Sir Jackie, the British former F1 driver from Scotland nicknamed the Flying Scot when he competed in races between 1965 and 1973, winning three world drivers’ championships, played a key supportive role in the kingdom’s bid to become the home of motorsport in the Middle East after a chance encounter with His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on a transatlantic flight.
“We had members of the Stewart family here, Sir Jackie’s sons, Paul and Mark were with us,” the ambassador added. “I’m particularly delighted Mark could be with us as he had flown in especially from Japan, where Sunday’s F1 race is being hosted. A couple of the grandsons of the Stewart family were here too, especially for the event.
“We had Stephen Gerrard waving the green flag to set people off at the start so, it was more than I could have hoped for, honestly. I’m really delighted and just so grateful to everybody who came.”
According to Mr Long, the Bahrain fundraiser will remain open for another week for those who wish to donate. All proceeds from the BD5 registration for One Lap Challenge will go directly to the Race Against Dementia charity.
“Even when our fundraising effort here closes, which will be in a week or so, of course, people can still give to the charity itself,” the ambassador added.
“It’s just a horrifying illness, both in the way that it affects individuals, but also in the sheer number of people who are affected now and who are going to be affected. The rise in dementia globally is astonishing. We’re talking about possibly 140 million people having dementia by 2050. Someone develops dementia in the world every three seconds. That’s what we’re up against.
“There’s a myth about this as well, I think, that it’s just ageing societies, which is typically your sort of more affluent, developed societies that are affected. But in fact, 60pc of dementia cases are in low-and middle-income countries. So, no country has been spared this and we all need to work together to find a solution.”
Dementia is a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and everyday tasks, caused by conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and Lewy body dementia.
There are more than 200 types, and symptoms worsen over time.
“Formula 1 is proud to be supporting Race Against Dementia in their tireless work to find a cure for a terrible disease that destroys lives and rips families apart,” added F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali.
The walk came shortly before the BIC hosts the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 taking place over the weekend of April 11-13.
For more information visit raceagainstdementia.com
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
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