The partnership is raising much-needed funds and awareness for the UK’s leading dementia charity and on Thursday, May 14, charity supporter Stephen Fry will be making a guest-host appearance.
The former QI host has recorded two rounds for the quiz in support of Alzheimer’s Research UK – The Virtual Pub Quiz’s first charity partner since quizmaster Jay Flynn and his community raised over £150,000 for NHS Charities Together.
The evening will be extra special, as Jay and his audience attempt to beat their own world record for the most viewers of a livestreamed pub quiz on YouTube, which currently stands at 182,000.
Quizzers are being encouraged to donate towards the charity, which is predicting a drop in support for its work by as much as 45% as a result of COVID-19. As an added incentive, wealth management and employee benefits company Mattioli Woods has agreed to match-fund the first £15,000 of donations.
Ian Wilson, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We are so grateful to Jay and his community for backing the work of the charity and our amazing supporter Stephen Fry for guest hosting some of the quiz rounds for us.
“These really are difficult times for charities the world over, including Alzheimer’s Research UK. But by coming together for a night of quizzing and fundraising, we can ensure our scientists can continue their vitally important search for dementia treatments. I would also like to thank our fantastic corporate partner Mattioli Woods for offering to match-funding donations up to £15,000. This collective support means everything to the charity and the millions living with dementia worldwide. It’s support like this that will lead us towards the dementia breakthroughs that are so desperately needed.”
Stephen Fry said: “Many of us have been close to someone they love very much in the grip of dementia. I remember visiting the mother of a friend in the very severe stages of the condition and seeing her not recognise her own son. Humans are ultimately social animals and dementia isolates you from your social networks. That’s as frightening as anything can be.
“That’s why this partnership between Alzheimer’s Research UK and The Virtual Pub Quiz feels so perfect. The quiz is keeping people connected, while the money raised will support research that will ultimately keep us connected to our loved ones for longer.
“By supporting charities like Alzheimer’s Research UK, future generations will only be reading about diseases like Alzheimer’s and not experiencing it. I do hope many of you will join us for the quiz and consider supporting this worthiest of causes. Now more than ever, dementia research needs our backing.”
The Virtual Pub Quiz quizmaster, Jay Flynn, said: “We are so proud to be supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK as our next charity partner.
“So many of our community will have been touched by dementia in some way and it’s a cause that’s close to me and my family, too. It’s so important we don’t forget about important causes like this at this time.
“I’d like to thank Stephen for giving up his time to support the charity and the quiz and I know our amazing community will get behind Alzheimer’s Research UK 100%.
“Hopefully we’ll raise lots of money for the charity and smash our record for the most viewers of the quiz, too.”
Simon Gibson, Chief Investment Officer at Mattioli Woods, Alzheimer’s Research UK partners since 2019, said: “Mattioli Woods are proud supporters of Alzheimer’s Research UK and we are delighted to be able to help further by match-funding the first £15,000 in donations for their partnership with The Virtual Pub Quiz. We need to keep momentum in the search for new dementia treatments and money raised from the quiz really will change lives. It is a privilege to be involved and an honour for us to support what they do.”
The quiz starts at 7.50pm on Thursday, May 14. To take part, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIJs13EIzIA or to donate, visit https://alzres.uk/VirtualPubQuiz
For anyone wanting to hold their own virtual quiz to support Alzheimer’s Research UK, visit www.themightyquiz.org
For more information about Alzheimer’s Research UK, call 0300 111 5555 or visit www.alzheimersresearchuk.org
