About

Tennis for Race Against Dementia is a not-for-profit initiative founded and launched by Darren Burgess in September 2021, in partnership with Tennis Scotland, to increase access to tennis for people aged 50 and over, and to improve healthy cognitive ageing.   The design of the next phase of the Tennis4RAD programme, to clubs across Scotland from summer 2022, has been led by Kris Soutar, Tennis Scotland's Senior Consultant.

Aims & Vision

The aim of the Tennis for Race Against Dementia programme is to: 

• contribute to Tennis Scotland's vision of Tennis Opened up to Deliver The Legacy in Scotland; and its mission to grow tennis by making it relevant, accessible, welcoming and enjoyable;

• support healthy cognitive ageing through participation in tennis, to help to reduce the risk of developing dementia, as promoted by the Alzheimer’s Society (see Blog section);

• improve mental health and physical well-being, particularly for those who may have become less active or lonely during the COVID-19 lockdowns;

• and support The Scottish Government's Active Scotland Delivery Plan and Strategy for Older People, to help make Scotland a place where people live longer and healthier lives with opportunities to enjoy a high quality of life as they grow older, so they can live as independently as possible.