The national team of England announced on Monday that they will play a second half of their international friendly against Belgium at Wembley Stadium without names on the back of their shirts in order to raise awareness of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
When the players return to the field after halftime, the names will “disappear” from their shirts to symbolize how loved ones suffering from dementia can lose priceless memories. The FA and the Alzheimer’s Society are partners in the initiative.
The CEO of the Alzheimer’s Society, Kate Lee, stated in a statement, “We hope to not only encourage fans to donate towards our early diagnosis research but also to support their loved ones just as much as they support their football team.”
“This means taking crucial first steps in seeking a diagnosis if they suspect someone they care about may be affected.”
