Nobody should walk alone

Photo: Contributed

According to a recent survey, more than 50 per cent of the Canadians affected by dementia have felt stigmatized or discriminated against; for many, it’s a lonely disease. Kelowna residents can help change this. Show them you stand with them by creating a team and participating in the Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer’s on Sunday, May 6, 2018. The Kelowna Walk will take place at Kelowna City Park at 1 p.m.

The Walk is a fun and family-friendly way to create a movement, while sending a message of inclusion and hope to the estimated 70,000 British Columbians currently living with dementia, and the people who care for them. The Walk will take place in 23 locations across the province. Each Walk is dedicated to an honouree – someone who has been affected by dementia, or who has valuably contributed to the lives of people living with the disease. The Kelowna Walk honours Allan and Bettina Collier. Participants are also encouraged to walk in honour or memory of someone in their lives who has faced dementia. One powerful way to do this is as a team.

“Teams are so integral to the Walk, and they bring a strong sense of community. Seeing people walk and fundraise to honour someone close to them who has been affected by dementia is so meaningful. We invite anyone interested in participating in the Walk to create their own team. It’s such a wonderful way to bring people in your life together, while helping to create a movement to show people on the dementia journey that they do not have to walk alone,” says Maribeth Friesen who is the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s Regional Manager for Kelowna and the Northern and Interior regions.

The Walk aims to inspire Kelowna residents to unite to create a world without dementia. To set-up a team, simply go to walkforalzheimers.ca and follow the prompts. Need an extra incentive? Teams that raise $500 as a team by February 28 will go into a draw to win $500 worth of Amazon gift cards.

The funds raised through the event will make a world of difference to people affected by dementia in Kelowna. They will directly fund support, education and learning opportunities so people affected by dementia can live their best lives possible. Funds will also help enable research into the causes of and the cure for the disease, so we can look to a world without dementia.

By participating in the Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer’s you will truly be making a difference. By creating a team, you will create a community of courage that will change the face of the disease. Join us, and make memories matter. For more information, or to register today, visit walkforalzheimers.ca.