Scouting for Girls urge fans to sign up to South Shields Memory Walk

The band made the appeal for support as they belted out hits before a 20,000-strong audience at their gig in Bents Park, which formed part of the annual South Tyneside Festival.

The upcoming Memory Walk will take place at Bents Park on Saturday, October 6.

As they encouraged fans to sign up, Scouting For Girls threw signed Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walk T-shirts into the crowd, explaining that they had supported their local event in Watford last year.

Lead singer Roy Stride said: “My mum was only 60 when she was diagnosed with dementia and died aged just 64.

“I inherited my love of music from mum.

“Taking part in a Memory Walk was a great way to remember her and walk with thousands of people all united against dementia.

“It was great to play at Bents Park in front of an amazing crowd and it meant a lot to me to share my reasons for supporting Alzheimer’s Society on stage.

“I’d urge you all to head back to Bents Park in the autumn and walk for a world without dementia.”

Last year’s event saw more than 4,500 people walk the picturesque coastal route in memory of, or to pay tribute to, a loved one affected by dementia.

There are an estimated 850,000 people living with dementia across the UK, more than 2,100 of them in South Tyneside.

Dementia is set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes.