A CONCERT to raise money for Alzheimer's research is being held at the Hornby Theatre, Blackburn Central Library, on Thursday.

The Songs For Moira concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets, £3, £2 concessions, are available on the door.

The event has been organised by Blackburn man David L Coggins, of the Moira Trust, whose wife, Moira, developed Alzheimer's when she was 45 and has now lived with it for 14 years. She has been in a nursing home for six years and requires 24-hour care.

This week is National Alzheimer's Awareness Week and the concert aims to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society's research into the causes of 'early onset dementia.'

According to Mr Coggins, there are 17,000 people in this country under the age of 65 with Alzheimer's and related dementias. "Alzheimer's is not just a case of memory loss. A person's ability to reason, understand and cope with life is gradually and systematically stripped from them until they are totally dependent on 24-hour nursing care," he said.

Music for the evening will be provided by Blackburn People's Choir, an accapella choir, who perform a wide range of folk and traditional songs, as well as unique arrangements of popular music.

There will be a full supporting programme from a wide range of musical styles, including a flute recital from Lauren Chapman, whose uncle, Ivor Bolton, recently conducted the impressive end-of-year concert at Westholme School. Mr Coggins will read from his poetry anthology 'As If You Knew, Poems For Moira.'

Wine will be served at the interval.

The Blackburn and Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley branch of the Alzheimer's Society meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month between 7-8.30pm at the Blackburn Blind Society, on The Boulevard (above Jam). Anyone who wants more information can contact Stella Gregory on 01254 294707.