A teenager inspired by his granddad's death to raise thousands of pounds for a dementia care centre has been nominated for a Croydon Champions award.

Ted Williams, 17, was moved to help Heavers Court in Selhurst after it cared for Albert Mackey before he died in 2011.

Despite struggling to deal with the death of his beloved grandfather, who had Alzheimer's disease, he volunteered to do work experience for the home's Marsh and Willow day care service.

Realising that the home struggled for funding, Ted, of Birdwood Close, Selsdon, decided to hold a fun day in July last year at John Fisher School, where he studies, to raise money.

It proved a great success, raising more than £2,500 for the centre and the school's science fund.
The money was used to pay for two iPods and docking stations and Christmas dinner for the centre's clients.

Now Ted is organising another fun day this July and has been pounding the streets of Croydon to invite donations for raffle prizes.

He was nominated for the charity volunteer award by his mum Annette.

She said: "Ted did not handle his granddad's illness and death well and found it very difficult to talk about Alzheimer's and dementia as it had a stigma attached to it. 

"He decided to undertake his three week work experience at Marsh and Willow when he was 15, which was a hard thing for him to do, Ted had never been to the day centre before this."

"The two most important things Ted has achieved are his peers have been able to talk about Alzheimer's and dementia without the fear of been laughed at and the fun and laughter he has provided at the centre, all while studying for his A-levels.

"Ted's vision for this event is to keep working on it every year and make it bigger and better."
After learning of the nomination, Ted said: "I am shocked but really pleased. I will have to thank my mum."

Ted's plans for this year's fun day at his school in Peaks Hill, Purley, on July 12, include an appearance from Jessica Hammond, star of BBC's The Voice.

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