by Ian Whates

In December 2007, Terry Pratchett’s many fans were shocked by the news that he had been diagnosed with a rare early-onset form of Alzheimer’s.

At 59, the creator of the Discworld is considered too young to receive his medication, the drug Aricept, free on the NHS, so must pay for it. Since being diagnosed, the author has been appalled to discover that the level of funding for research into Alzheimer’s is only equivalent to 3% of that provided for the investigation of cancer.

Now it’s been announced that Terry will be donating US $1,000,000 (about £494,000) to help fund research into the disease. In response, celebrated author Pat Cadigan has launched a campaign calling for fans to match this donation (collectively, rather than individually), by each donating £1.00 to the charities funding the research.

As for the man himself, in typically sombre fashion, he is quoted as saying, “Personally, I'd eat the arse out of a dead mole if it offered a fighting chance.”

Donations can be made here: http://www.alzheimers-research.org.uk