Barbara Windsor’s husband Scott Mitchell has revealed he’s ‘overwhelmed’ after fans raised £100,000 for an Alzheimer’s charity.
Following the EastEnders star’s death from the disease, a JustGiving page set up by Scott, 57, has raised a staggering six figure sum for life-saving research.
Barbara died on December 10 aged 83 after six years battling Alzheimer’s, with Scott spending her last seven days at her bedside after being her primary carer during her later life battle with the disease.
Moving: Barbara Windsor’s husband Scott Mitchell has revealed he’s ‘overwhelmed’ after fans raised £100,000 for an Alzheimer’s charity (they are pictured together in April 2019)
Scott set up the page for fans to donate to Alzeimer’s Research UK, to continue with the vital search for a cure.
After hearing of the huge amount raised he told The Sun: ‘I have been completely overwhelmed by the response from Barbara’s fans, friends and former colleagues.
‘This outpouring of support has filled me with pride and been a huge comfort to me. It just shows how loved, respected and adored my Barbara was. That’s magical.
‘I’m determined to honour her legacy by doing everything I can to support dementia research and help Alzheimer’s Research UK’s search for a cure.’
Proud: The actor praised those who donated to the JustGiving page he set up after Barbara died on December 10 following a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s (pictured in September 2019)
Amazing: Fans rushed to donate to the JustGiving page following the news of Barbara’s death
It’s thought that the bingo site JackpotJoy, who Barbara worked with from 2010 to 2017, donated £83,000 to the cause.
Scott revealed he wanted the JustGiving page to be used as a Book of Condolence where mourners can offer their sympathies while donating to charity.
The couple received the news the actress was suffering with Alzheimer’s in 2014, with Scott saying he broke down in tears at the neurologist’s office.
Inseparable: The couple married in 2000- eight years after they met when Barbara was 55 and Scott was 30 (pictured in 2000)
Courageous: On Thursday Scott made his first television appearance since Barbara’s death , saying he ‘can’t believe she’s not here’ while speaking about his grief
Barbara chose to keep her condition secret for four years before asking her husband to make the announcement in May 2018.
Scott became Barbara’s primary carer until he made the decision to move her into a full-time residential care home due to her battle with dementia.
The Carry On legend had begun to struggle to walk and was put in a wheelchair.
On the day he took her to the care home, Scott admitted he felt ‘sick to the pit of [his] stomach’ for leaving her there when they’d spent so much time together during their 27-years together.
The heartbroken former actor announced her death earlier this month before paying tribute to his ‘soul mate’.
Scott wrote: ‘Myself, her family and friends will remember Barbara with love, a smile and affection for the many years of her love, fun, friendship and brightness she brought to all our lives and the entertainment she gave to so many thousands of others during her career.
‘Barbara’s final weeks were typical of how she lived her life. Full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end.
‘It was not the ending that Barbara or anyone else living with this very cruel disease deserve.
‘I will always be immensely proud of Barbara’s courage, dignity and generosity dealing with her own illness and still trying to help others by raising awareness for as long as she could.
‘Dementia/Alzheimer’s remains the UKs number one killer. Although in challenging times, I urge the Prime Minister, his Government and other parties to be true to their previous promises and invest more into Dementia/Alzheimer’s Research and Care.
‘Thank you to all the doctors, nurses and carers who are angels at the Care Home for your kindness and care to Barbara and I throughout her stay with you. You are my heroes.
‘And my gratitude to our family, friends and everyone in the media and the general public for all the good wishes and warm support that has been shown to Barbara over the last few years during her illness. Barbara deeply appreciated that.
‘May you rest in peace now my precious Bar. I’ve lost my wife, my best friend and soul mate and my heart or life will never feel the same without you.’
On Friday Scott made his first television appearance since Barbara’s death to speak at Good Morning Britain‘s 1 Million Minutes Awards.
He admitted he was worried he would be ‘too emotional’ to present an award named in Barbara’s honour to a carer and fought back tears as he spoke about the star’s final days.
Scott, who was Barbara’s primary carer before she was moved into a care home in August, commended award winner Nassrat Bi for her ‘courage and compassion’ after she returned to work shortly after losing her father to coronavirus.
‘I know Barbara would have adored someone with those qualities and I can’t believe only a week ago she was still here and now she’s not,’ he said.
To donate to Dame Barbara’s JustGiving click here.