The Scottish racing supremo started his own charity after his wife Helen was diagnosed with dementia
Scottish racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart has handed a boost to help accelerate research into dementia.
The three-time Formula One world champion has committed £2 million to help search for scientists who can deliver a breakthrough in the treatment of the condition.
The funding has been committed by Sir Jackie's Race Against Dementia charity, which he founded after his wife of 56 years, Lady Helen Stewart, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
Race Against Dementia has been set up to help tackle the big questions in dementia research, and to accelerate progress.
The funding will be allocated in partnership through Alzheimer's Research UK, and will support early-career dementia scientists with new ideas.
Sir Jackie said: "Helen has always been my rock and her razor-sharp mind was one of the first things that I fell in love with.
"Four years on from her diagnosis, she's still the same Helen, with the same sense of humour, but with a gradual decline in memory and mobility that throws up all sorts of challenges that she, and we, have had to learn to cope with.
"Over the last few years my family has been going through an experience that we never expected, and which has turned our world upside down.”
The former Stewart Grand Prix team owner said he recognised the financial effects that dementia can have for families, alongside the emotional ones.
He said: "I'm very fortunate to be able to afford 24-hour specialist care for Helen, but I know that this is not possible for millions of other families touched by dementia.
"The cost of care can be enormous and from a medical point of view, there are very few treatments that can make life easier. This has got to change."
Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "It has been inspirational to see Sir Jackie and the family step up to this challenge and to pour drive and determination into taking on our greatest medical challenge.
"We're very grateful for Sir Jackie's fantastic support for dementia research and we're proud to have been working with him in setting up these ambitious global Race Against Dementia fellowships."
