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The Marcliffe Hotel, in Pitfodels, welcomed 220 guests including the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Councillor Peter Stephen, and his wife Sandra.

Dr Donald Mowat, Aberdeen Network Co-ordinator for the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, was a speaker at the lunch and commented: “The University of Aberdeen is part of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust’s network of 15 research centres across the UK. Research is the only way forward to bring tangible benefits to patients and help to expand the number of possible treatments. The multi-disciplinary centre here in Aberdeen allows scientists to develop and test treatments for Alzheimer’s and other dementias but funding for that research is essential.”

Pat Ross, Vice President of the Aberdeen Zonta International Club, expressed her delight at the success of the event and the motivation for supporting the Alzheimer’s Research Trust: “With everyone’s generosity the total we raised of £6,000 has far exceeded our dreams. In real terms that is equivalent to funding three months of research, which is just amazing!

“We are thrilled at the support we received from the local community. Businesses and organisations in the area helped to boost the total by donating a fantastic selection of prizes for the draw, which took place during the meal, ranging from golf days to makeovers.

“My husband has Alzheimer’s and in recent years he has been looked after in a care home. I am only too aware of the effects this awful disease can have on individuals, their family, friends and carers. My friends and I decided we’d try to do something to help towards finding a treatment or cure by raising money for dementia research.”

Dr Marie Janson, Director of Development for the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said: “This is a wonderful result and we are very grateful to Pat and the other members of the Aberdeen Zonta International Club, for the time and effort they put into this event.

“Dementia research is making progress but it is hugely underfunded. The money raised through this charity lunch will make a real difference in bringing a cure ever nearer and hope to those people living with the daily reality of this devastating condition, including 56,000 people in Scotland alone.”