Wipeout Dementia®

One of the biggest global public health challenges in history is dementia.

The property industry Wipeout Dementia^® is happening this November! This campaign kicked off with a first event in May 2015 in which the then Prime Minister Tony Abbott participated. The campaign ran again in November 2015 with NSW Premier Mike Baird and has since run every May and November. The inaugural property industry Wipeout Dementia^® ran at Bondi Beach in November 2016 and in November 2018 the property industry hosted the most successful Wipeout Dementia^® to date with $155,000 raised. Since the first Wipeout Dementia^®, the campaign has raised over one million dollars for dementia research at CHeBA. In May 2019, the first ever inter-generational Wipeout Dementia^® was held with 16 father/son, father/daughter and uncle/nephew duos aged from 10 to 70 teaming up to surf at Queenscliff Beach, spreading the message of physical activity throughout the lifespan to reduce risk of dementia. Next up, the property industry will be getting back on board to surf again in November at Bondi Beach.

Ambassadors are Richard Grellman AM and 1978 World Surfing Champion Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew AM.

This fundraising campaign supports The Dementia Momentum^®, a Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) initiative which seeks to bring researchers and the community together to change the future of dementia incidence. Spokesman for The Dementia Momentum, Richard Grellman, has participated in all events. Richard's wife Suellen has advanced young onset Alzheimer's disease and has been in high level 24 hour residential care since early 2014.

Ambassador Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew has also surfed in each Wipeout Dementia^® and encourages everyone to get on board this initiative either as a surfing participant or event sponsor.

This is a fantastic initiative to drive much needed funds to dementia research. With cardiovascular health in mid-life a key factor in brain health in late life it’s great to see this group taking on a challenging physical endeavour to support Richard’s role with CHeBA.

Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew AM, Ambassador

"Richard Grellman has for the last 15 years been a mentor figure in my life. As Chairman of ASP International, Richard was a great assist, in fact instrumental, in the implementation of the "Dream Tour" concept, ushering in a new era of governance that set Professional Surfing on its ascendancy. Moreover, Richard and Suellen became close personal friends, our social and professional lives interacting on many levels, and I have witnessed the challenges, heartbreak, despair and resignation that the Grellman's journey has taken them on. I feel privileged to be alongside the great man once again," said Rabbit.

The Significance of Wipeout Dementia^®

The popular image of a bronzed, outdoors-loving and sports mad Aussie belies the fact that Australians are one of the most physically inactive people internationally. There is incontrovertible evidence that physical inactivity increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, diabetes and depression. All of these are risk factors for dementia. A recent analysis showed that physically inactive individuals had an 80% increased risk of dementia.

By contrast, physical exercise has positive and protective effects on brain function, not only reducing risk factors but increasing neuroplasticity.

The brain abnormalities that lead to dementia are known to start at least 20-30 years before the disease becomes manifest, suggesting that behaviours in young and mid adulthood will have a significant impact on brain health in old age.

Co-Directors of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, Professors Perminder Sachdev and Henry Brodaty, say one of the most effective strategies we can adopt to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia later in life is to become physically active from an early age, and remain active throughout our lives.

The SMART trial conducted by our collaborators showed that physical exercise reduced the rate of decline in cognitive function in those with mild memory problems.

The message for all Australians is: get active. CHeBA researchers recommend individuals to exercise at a moderate intensity for at least 30-40 minutes every day, including a degree of vigorous exercise. Participants in Wipeout Dementia^® are perfect examples of the benefits that accrue from physical exercise.

Each Wipeout Dementia^® event has a goal of raising $100,000 for CHeBA's research.

Get on Board Wipeout Dementia^®

Download the Wipeout Dementia^® Handbook (3.78mb, PDF) for all the background and information to this event. Wipeout Dementia^® is a corporate surfing fundraiser, hosted by the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), UNSW to raise funds for dementia research. All funds raised will go to The Dementia Momentum^®, a CHeBA initiative which seeks to bring researchers and the community together to change the future of dementia incidence.

For more information, contact:

Heidi Douglass
Communications & Projects Officer
T 0435 579 202
E h.douglass@unsw.edu.au.

The Dementia Momentum^®

To find out more about this initiative, visit The Dementia Momentum^® website.

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Wipeout Dementia^® Competitors