Great British Bake Off star supports dementia campaign
The campaign follows the charity's Forget Me Not Appeal, which ran throughout June and encouraged people to wear a Forget Me Not badge in solidarity with those affected by dementia.
Mr Ryan, whose nan had dementia, said: "It's easy to feel isolated, yet it's crucial for families to know they're not alone.
"The Alzheimer's Society Forget Me Not Tea Parties are a great way to come together and support each other while helping to increase funding for vital research and support.
"No one should have to navigate this alone."
More than 50,000 people in Wales are living with dementia, and the Alzheimer's Society provides support to them and their families.
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The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
Gazans are starving. Amal Nassar's family are among them
"We don't have enough to eat," Nassar said in a WhatsApp message over the weekend. USA TODAY previously wrote about Nassar's story of giving birth to her daughter Mira in a war zone without access to pain relief. On July 28, for the second day running, Israel paused its military operations in Gaza to "improve the humanitarian response." That follows a series of alarming warnings from world leaders and global officials, from the United Nations' World Health Organization, and from dozens of humanitarian agencies that malnutrition and even starvation in Gaza is on a "dangerous trajectory." Israel-Gaza: What to know Gaza as starvation spreads The United Nations' World Food Programme says a third of Gaza's population does not eat for several days at a time. Every one in four Gazans, it says, is "enduring famine-like conditions." The Hamas-run health ministry, the chief source of health data in Gaza, says more than 100 people have died from malnutrition in recent days. Israel refutes claims that it is intentionally starving Gaza Israel refutes all claims that it is intentionally starving Gaza's population. It accuses the United Nations of failing to collect and distribute aid sitting on Gaza's border. For nearly two years, it has also accused Hamas of stealing aid for Gaza's desperate and hungry population and using it as a weapon of control. "There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on July 28. He called suggestions there is a "bold-faced lie," prompting a response from President Donald Trump while he was on a golf trip in Scotland. "From what I see on TV, I can say those kids look starving," Trump said. ''We're sending a lot of money and a lot of food. The children in Gaza must receive food and security immediately." Pregnant in Gaza: women face starvation, no anesthesia Going hungry in Gaza Recent reports indicate there's not much evidence of systematic Hamas aid theft. Amid growing international pressure, Israel has also allowed the United Arab Emirates and Jordan to resume aid drops of flour, sugar and canned foods over Gaza. But aid workers say that tactic is not as effective as convoys of trucks. Even large transport planes can't carry as much aid as truck convoys. They can also be dangerous. It's not uncommon for aid drop from planes to injure or even kill those who are trying to get to them. "We need more food to be able to enter Gaza," said Beckie Ryan, the Gaza response director for CARE, an aid group. Ryan is in Deir Al-Balah. CARE runs a health clinic there. She said "everyone is hungry." She also said her clinic has seen a spike in cases of children who are either malnourished or acutely malnourished, and that soaring summer temperatures combined with limited water supplies are exacerbating the situation. Ryan also said cases like Nassar's were fairly typical in Gaza right now. Most people are limited to one meal a day. They are having to chose which of their children gets food. Because no cash has been allowed into Gaza for almost two years, and markets only accept cash, those who are still lucky enough to be earning a salary are having to pay as much as double to effectively buy the cash they need to pay for the limited goods for sale. Ryan said there are "multiple layers" that explain why it's been so hard to get food to Gazans. However, she said the most important thing is "access to the thousands of trucks that are sitting in Egypt and Jordan. It's the quickest and most efficient way. Right now our ability to move those trucks is extremely limited." For Nasser, where the food comes from or who's to blame for the lack of it is of secondary importance. She said she and her husband don't dare go near aid distribution centers run the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an American contractor. They are too scared. It is backed by the United States and Israel but not the United Nations. The international body has reported hundreds of deaths of Palestinians trying to access these centers. Some of those deaths have been linked, by the United Nations, to Israeli gunfire and shelling. GHF has accused the United Nations of "false and exaggerated statistics" over these deaths. Nasser said that weeks can go by without her family eating a single piece of fresh fruit or a vegetable. She said that one diaper for her daughter, Mira, can cost as much as $10 with the extra fees for cash. She uses plastic bags when she can't afford diapers but they give Mira rashes that bleed. She said she constantly worries about her children. They are losing weight. She herself is newly pregnant, exhausted and often feels dizzy. "Our situation," she said, "is really horrible."
Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brit tourist, 18, dies on first lads holiday abroad after 'taking pills'
Ryan Long from Essex had barely been on the party island when he fell ill inside a club and eventually collapsed unconscious - he tragically passed away five days later The devastated parents of a teenager who died after apparently taking an ecstasy pill on holiday have urged other youngsters to stay away from drugs. Ryan Long, from Eastwood in Essex, was in Ibiza with four mates on his first ever lads holiday. However, the 18-year-old lost his life last Tuesday after suddenly falling ill while out in UNVRS nightclub. The group had only been on the island, popular with Brits for partying, for a matter of hours when Ryan's pals noticed he "didn't seem right" and was "acting funny". After helping him back to their accommodation hoping that he would just sleep it off, he collapsed unconscious with his mouth foaming. Ryan was rushed to a hospital in Palma De Mallorca via an air ambulance before falling into a coma that same evening and sadly dying in intensive care five days later. His final word had been the name of his brother, Aaron. Adrian Long, Ryan's grieving dad, described him as "always full of life" and "smiling". He and wife, Angela, found out about their son's condition in the early hours of the morning but agonisingly had to wait until Thursday, July 4 for an available flight to Ibiza. They were initially told by doctors that Ryan had only a couple of hours left to live. Angela said that she had drilled it into her son to avoid taking illegal drugs and believes that the high price of food and drink on the island could have been what drove her son to narcotics. His tearful mum told MailOnline: "I think what was in Ryan's head was the expense of the clubs, the drinks. It was 52 euros for a single vodka and coke, it's just extortionate. He was doing an apprenticeship. He's not on brilliant money. And I don't know, I just think it was a cheaper option to get a fix, look somewhere else." Ryan had suffered from acute and "deteriorating" liver failure from the devastating effects of the drug on his body. Angela said the loss of her son is like a "dream" and now wants to warn other young tourists heading out to the party island that it's not worth the risk if they they feel tempted to take drugs while there. His mates were left traumatised after seeing their friend suddenly deteriorate the way he did but that they did all they could to help, according to Ryan's mum. While Adrian hopes the tragic case of his son, who had never even been abroad without his parents before, will make other teens aware of the deadly impact drugs can have. He said that people think it won't happen to them but "it does". "You just want him to wake up, but obviously they're not going to wake up. You hope that they do but in his case, he hasn't," Adrian said when describing the moment his son passed away. He also believes that his Ryan was at a slightly higher risk of death from taking an ecstasy pill due to his nut allergy. Apprentice Ryan, who would have been 19 last Saturday, had everything to look forward to and was a "long-standing member of local football club Ben Bradford Goalkeeping Academy (BBGK). Owner and close friend of the family, Ben Bradford, has since set up a a GoFundMe page to help support the devastated parents. He said "lovely lad" Ryan enjoyed DJing and was a massive Southend United fan and that it was out of character for him to take any drugs. The club is planning to hold a minute's silence for the teen and "do something in memory of him" to help the shocked community come to terms with the death. Ryan was also a county swimmer and won multiple swimming events as well as being the youngest boy to qualify for an open water dive certification at a scuba centre in Cyprus. Another close friend of the family, Cliff, also warned people against the "squeaky clean image" of Ibiza that draws in thousands of young Brits every year. He believes that "things like this" happen regularly and added: "We were told by the hospital that there had been five or six cases like this already."
BBC News
15-07-2025
- BBC News
'Short break respite care saved my family,' says Harrogate parent
A single parent whose son has complex needs has thanked respite foster carers for "saving my mental health and keeping my family together". Teresa, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, said without the short breaks with carers that were organised for her youngest son Ryan, who has autism and learning disabilities, he would not have been able to continue living with her."I didn't want Ryan in care at all, I wanted to do it all myself and be a good mother, but if I hadn't had the respite foster care I wouldn't have coped to be honest," she Yorkshire Council said it was looking for dozens of new foster carers in the region. Mother-of-two Teresa, who has anxiety and depression, said she had previously felt "alone and isolated" as a parent. "I didn't have any family support, it's hard enough without a child with additional needs," she said. Fostering North Yorkshire, a not-for-profit organisation, arranged for a short breaks carer to get to know the family. Over a period of four years, the carer looked after Ryan during regular short stays, overnight and day visits."I could sleep properly, I could eat properly, things other people take for granted," Teresa said."It helped me get my energy back to be the best parent for Ryan when he came back."She added: "It restored my confidence and sense of identity - I could be Teresa again."Foster carers are given an allowance to help pay for the child's food and other requirements, but they are also usually paid fees on top, to recognise their time and Appleby, head of placement services for North Yorkshire Council, said: "We are probably looking for about 30 to 40 extra carers, specifically around short term arrangements, at any one time. "All carers are allocated a social worker to support and prepare them and the amount of time a carer offers varies - it might be once a week or more than that."She added: "We're always looking to welcome new carers into the amazing North Yorkshire foster care community." Heather Woolley, 59, who has recently started as a short breaks foster carer, said: "A child might come to me after school for a couple of hours, stay and have tea with me, or they might stay overnight and leave the next morning."Ms Woolley, who is from Scarborough and worked in special education for 16 years, said her experience made her a good match for the role."I've had positive feedback from the families as it's given them the time to spend with other siblings, which they don't normally get to do," she is no set foster carer payment as it depended on a range of factors, North Yorkshire Council said. These include how many children are being fostered, their needs and requirements and the carer's skill set."I'm here today bringing Ryan up, and I don't think that would have happened if I hadn't had this really important, valuable service," Teresa said. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
