The Alzheimer’s walk on Saturday was a success before anyone took a first step and despite the rainy weather.
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“We set a goal of $40,000 this year and we’ve already reached our target,” organizer Sue Arsenault said with a smile more than 45 minutes before the walk was set to begin. “Anything else that we bring in today will be a bonus.
“We’re really fortunate to have such terrific sponsors and we also have a dedicated group who come out to support us each year.”
Formally called the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s the event was expected to attract close to 120 participants. The walk was held at Mohawk Park and attracted a large crowd despite the threat of rain throughout the morning.
A chronic neurodegenerative disease Alzheimer’s destroys brain cells resulting in the gradual deterioration of a person’s ability to think and remember. It is irreversible and is not a normal part of aging, the Alzheimer Society of Canada says.
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According to the society, Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 per cent of all cases of dementia.
Arsenault is connected to the event in several ways. She has been involved in the walk for 13 years and is a retired Alzheimer Society employee.
She also has several relatives who have suffered from Alzheimer’s including Ted Money, Mary Hadysh, Don McKnight, Norma Allison, Ken Arsenault and Yolanda Roy. All of their names were included on a Walk for Alzheimer’s sign at Saturday’s walk.
Many other participants had similar signs in honor of loved ones who suffer or suffered from Alzheimer’s.
Arsenault, with the help of a strong core of volunteers, has organized the event for the past couple of years.
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“I know how much the Alzheimer Society does to help the community and we need the funds that we raise through this walk,” Arsenault said. “We don’t have enough funding to run extra programming which we provide free to clients.
“The programs that we provide are extremely important to our clients and their families.”
The programs include counseling and support services, Minds In Motion, Sit to be Fit and an art program. The programs aim to keep the minds of clients as healthy as possible.
The society also provides a respite program for caregivers. It is always full with a wait list.
Minds in Motion is an exercise program delivered by visiting instructors who take clients through an exercise routine. There is also a social aspect to the program, Arsenault said.
It’s all about getting clients engaged physically and socially, Arsenault said.
Isolation is extremely hard on those who suffer from Alzheimer’s and their caregivers and COVID was hard on them, Arsenault said.
“We did online programming and that helped but it’s not the same as bringing people together,” Arsenault said. “The social aspect to our programs is extremely important.”
To learn more visit www.alzheimer.ca/en.
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