Caremark Thanet Raise Money for Dementia Action Week

About Dementia

Dementia is not a disease; it is caused by other diseases with Alzheimer's disease being by far the biggest cause.  Dementia respects no-one. It has no sympathy for illness, for gender or status. It is not a natural part of aging though age makes us more susceptible. Dementia will touch the lives of many of us. It is estimated that in Thanet there are over 2000 people living with dementia and this figure will rise to approximately 3000 in 2026. In Kent the figures are over 22 000 people currently living with dementia, rising to over 30 000 in 2026.

Caremark Thanet's Dementia Support

As things stand, there is no cure. There are, though, things that can be done to help those living with dementia and their families. These things often cost money. And that money is often raised through charitable donations. At Caremark Thanet, we were trying to think of what we could do for Dementia Action Week, which this year takes place between the 21 and 27 May. We have supported the East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal in the past and thought that me might like to do something again for that appeal.The question was what precisely could we do?

Our question was answered for us by Jay Harrison, pictured below, who volunteered to have his legs and chest waxed to raise money for this very worthwhile charity. 

Jay Harrison before his waxing

Jay who works for Caremark Thanet, is no stranger to charitable fundraising. In June 2017, he made his debut as a stand-up comedian at our charity comedy night held at Bernie's Chocolate Bar in Margate.  Let's face it, to do a stand-up comedy routine takes some courage, but probably not as much courage as having your legs waxed. With Jay's help we are trying to raise £700. If you'd like to donate you can do so by going to Jay's JustGiving page. 

Jay will be having his head shaved at 3.00 pm on 21 May 2018 at Caremark Thanet's offices - Unit A5A Continental Approach, Margate, CT9 4JG. His legs and chest will be waxed two days later on 23 May 2018 at the same location - the time to be confirmed.



Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email: garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at: www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Caremark Thanet Raise Money for East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal

Our Charity Quiz Night

On Friday 8 December 2017 we (Caremark Thanet) held a quiz night in aid of East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal. Even the atrocious Margate weather could not keep our valiant quizzers away from what proved to be a spectacularly successful evening. On the night £366.60 was raised, which, in the new year, we will make up to £800. 

Managing Director, Garry Costain, and Business Development Manager, Jemma Clayton, draw the Raffle.

Everyone at Caremark Thanet sends a very big thank you to each of you who came along, bought raffle tickets and donated raffle prizes. Your wonderful generosity will go directly to help people in Thanet living with dementia. A special thank you must go to Bernie, the owner of Bernie's Chocolate Bar, for allowing us to use her superb venue located on Margate sea front, and for organizing the questions and compering the quiz.

Caremark Thanet and Bernie's Chocolate Bar

The quiz night is the third event Caremark Thanet has held with Bernie's Chocolate Bar.  In June we held two events: a Great Get Together, in celebration of the values of Jo Cox, and a Charity Comedy Night, once more in aid of East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal. The comedy night raised £1200, which means that this year we will have raised £2000 for the Appeal.

Presenting the Cheque

We will arrange to present a cheque for £800 to the East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal sometime early in the new year.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Caremark Thanet's Cheese and Wine Evening

On Friday 15 September we held a cheese and wine evening for our customers. The event was held at Smith's Court Hotel in Margate. The hotel is a fantastic venue for events like this. We have used the hotel for training days, recruitment days and now our cheese and wine evening, and we are never disappointed.

Our evening had several aims. Firstly, we wanted to say a little thank you to our customers and provide an opportunity for them to meet and socialize with each other.

Secondly, our customers had the chance to meet some of the Caremark Thanet staff whom they would not under normal circumstances have a chance to meet.

Thirdly, and very importantly, we provided an opportunity for customers, their families and friends to get expert advice from specialist dementia nurses, Karen Scrivener and Lorna Shadbolt, who were joined on the night by Victoria Adley who is the Fund Raising and Development Officer for East Kent Hospitals. We'd like to say a very big thank you to Victoria, Lorna and Karen for giving so generously of their time.

Victoria, Karen and Lorna are pictured below with one of our customers.

The feedback from those who attended was extremely positive. The specialist dementia advice was particularly well received. Such was the success of the evening that we intend to do other events throughout the year.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Thanet Has a Super-Hero: The Caped Comedian

A special announcement: this article will end with another special announcement

By day, Jay Harrison is an ordinary man, doing an extra-ordinary job, in a remarkable office, staffed by unforgettable people, working for the World’s Best Company (as voted for (following heavy bribery) by Jay Harrison and the unforgettable people he works with). But by night he becomes: The Caped Comedian.

At the age of 17 Jay’s life was transformed when he ate genetically modified mango chutney while watching old Abbott and Costello films. He woke up at 3.00 am with an urge he just could not control; an itch he could not scratch; a craving so strong he could think of only one thing; he had to find relief and he knew relief could be found in only one way: He had to be funny.

Five minutes later, Jay told his first joke- to himself. His craving was satisfied for the time being and he knew where his destiny lay: from now, his life would be dedicated to ridding Thanet of the evils of grumpiness. But first he had to learn how to control his super-power.

By day Jay wasn’t working. This is a problem for this article because it means that by day, as Jay Harrison, he wasn’t at this point in our story an ordinary man doing an extra-ordinary job. He needed to be, because we need to be able to say in this article – purely because it gives a narrative coherence to the article - that by day, as Jay Harrison, an ordinary man doing an extra-ordinary job he could never be funny or else his cover would be blown, and people, innocent people, might be harmed.

However, by night, as the Caped Comedian, he could use his super-power mercilessly and mirthfully against the forces of grumpiness. But controlling his uncontrollable urge would not be easy because it was uncontrollable.

He knew that with great power comes great responsibility (sorry that’s Spiderman). He knew he was the most powerful being on earth (oops no that’s Superman). He knew he was Bruce Wayne (Batman). Frankly, he knew very little, apart from the fact that he had to get a job so that by day he could be – and we can say he was - an ordinary man doing you know what.

And he did get a job. He became by day an ordinary man doing …something. He became Caremark Thanet’s Financial Controller.  At first, just one reckless, witty monosyllabic quip from his almost infinite store of reckless, witty monosyllabic quips could reduce a co-worker to a helpless, howling, undisciplined, uncontrollable, rolling, reeling, laughter junkie. The only cure for her would be to go cold turkey while listening to re-runs of the Money Programme, first aired on Radio 4 during the financial crash.

Over-time, Jay, an ordinary… has learnt to control his super-power. He uses it now only when he becomes the Caped Comedian and only against the grumpy people.  And only in Thanet.

And now a special announcement: 

The Caped Comedian will be appearing as Jay Harrison at the Charity Comedy Night at Bernie’s Chocolate Bar on 30 June 2017 starting at 7.30pm. This event is sponsored by Caremerk Thanet where an ordinary man named Jay Harrison works doing an extra-ordinary job. Money raised will go to East Kent Hospital’s Dementia Appeal. Jay Harrison an... invites you to attend. Be there or you’ll be somewhere else.

Another special announcement: 

This article ends with this special announcement. You’ve read the article; you’ll see the act, now, look out for the film: The Caped Comedian staring Daniel Radcliffe (in the most challenging role of his career) as the Caped Comedian in the film The Caped Comedian staring ….

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Support Our Dementia Appeal

Did you hear the one about the circus lion who ate a clown? He said never again because the clown tasted funny. You thought that was a bit cheesy, did you? Personally, I thought it was grate.

There's nothing like high class comedy: And that was nothing like high class comedy. However, I'll let you into a secret: I know where you can find high class comedy in Thanet. It's a secret I'm sharing with you but keep it to yourself because places will be limited. The place is Bernie's Chocolate Bar, 12-14 High Street, Margate, CT9 1AT; the date: Friday, 30 June 2017; the time 7.30 pm.

You can be sure that  in this place (Bernie's Chocolate Bar), on this day (Friday 30 June 2017) at this time (7.30) there is a stand up comedy night where the quality of the jokes will be far superior to what is on offer in this article. But this event is more than just a showcase for some of the regions comedic talent. It is also an event that will raise money for East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal.

Dementia is an evil, hideous, horrible condition. Dementia is not itself a disease. It is an umbrella term that refers to symptoms caused by a number of illnesses, of which Alzheimer's disease is, perhaps, the most widely known. There are probably, however, a hundred or more illnesses that can cause dementia.

The shadow of dementia will touch many of us. It is estimated that in Thanet there are over 2000 dementia patients and this figure will rise to approximately 3000 by 2026. In Kent the figures are over 22 000 current patients rising to over 30 000 by 2026.

To raise money for East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal, Caremark Thanet has teamed up with Bernie's Chocolate Bar to bring you a a charity comedy night. Caremark Thanet will match the sum of money raised on the night up to a maximum of £500. We have requested that the money raised goes specifically to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

Come along and join us. The price of entry is just £5 on the door. We have a wide range of performers. Our youngest performer is 23 years old; our oldest is 86. Some of our comics are very experienced; some are not; one or two are first timers. Old or young; experienced or novice; all our performers want your support. And in supporting our comics you will also be supporting the most worthwhile of charitable appeals.

Alternatively, you could stay at home and wait for my next article on the subject of comedy. Did you hear the one about... .

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

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