Match It for Pratchett - Donate $1 to Alzheimer's research

Terry Pratchett, the bestselling fantasy author, is suffering from a rare form of Alzheimer's but would like it to be known that he is not dead yet.

In a statement posted on the website of his illustrator Paul Kidby, the author in typical humorous fashion describes the diagnosis as "an embuggerance."

He adds: "Frankly, I would prefer it if people kept things cheerful, because I think there's time for at least a few more books yet."

Terry Pratchett, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in December, recently donated $1 million to the Alzheimer's Research Trust to help find a cure.

The best-selling author said:

"I am proud to become a Patron of the Alzheimer's Research Trust. Alzheimer's is a nasty disease, surrounded by shadows and small, largely unseen tragedies. I understand the desperation of sufferers and their carers and their hopes for, if not a cure, at least some regime that might help us live with Alzheimer's. Frankly, I'd eat the arse out of a dead mole if it offered a fighting chance. It was a shock to find out that funding for Alzheimer's research is just 3% of that to find cancer cures. Right now, one thing we can do is make certain that Alzheimer's does not remain out in the shadows. Once upon a time, cancer was only spoken of as "a long illness". When people felt able to talk about it, the battle could begin. The same thing can happen with Alzheimer's. Before you can kill the demon, you have to say its name."

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said:
"We're so pleased to have Terry's continued support. He is an inspiration to the 700,000 people who have dementia and 25 million friends and family affected by the disease. With a force like Terry demanding a drastic increase in dementia research funding, the government must recognize soon that it can no longer put off urgently needed reform."

Pratchett, 59, is best known for his satirical Discworld novels and he has sold more than 55 million books.

Pat Cadigan started an online campaign (dubbed "Match it for Pratchett" by participants) on her blog to get half a million Discworld fans to each donate a pound (that's about two dollars in U.S. currency) to Alzheimer's research, thus matching the half-million pounds/a million dollars donation Terry Pratchett made yesterday to the Alzheimer's Research Trust in the U.K. Cadigan says on his blog, "So whaddaya say, guys? … You can spare that much. Go here and make your donation. Tell them it's in honour of Terry Pratchett."

The Match It For Pratchett site, www.matchitforpratchett.org, has been set up for more information. A Facebook page has also been set up by the originator of the initiative, which includes a letter from the Alzheimer's Research Trust.

Check out this latest interview with Terry Pratchett (below). You can donate directly to the trust by going to their official site at the Alzheimer's Research Trust.