People are being encouraged to get involved in the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s and make a difference in the lives of people and families living with dementia.
The main walk takes place at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg on Saturday, May 27, but the rest of the province is being encouraged to participate either virtually on their own or at smaller local events.
“In the rural areas, we’re trying to encourage what we’re calling ‘Walk My Way,’” said Rebecca Atkinson, the south central regional coordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.
“One way of doing the walk rurally is just putting your own team together however you want to do it,” she said. “Some communities are organizing something a bit bigger, so that it’s more of a public walk.”
In this region, an Altona walk and barbecue lunch is planned at The Gardens on Tenth Wednesday, June 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
On Saurday, June 17, there will be a walk leaving from Tabor Home in Morden from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Walks are also planned for Darlingford Saturday, June 10 at 10:30 a.m. with a donation to volunteer firefighters for the breakfast, Somerset Wednesday, June 21 at 10:30 a.m., and Swan Lake that same day at 1 p.m.
“There’s people organizing and really trying to come together, and that’s the key message: a walk is a great way to come together as a community,” said Atkinson.
“Some people come just to honour and celebrate their family members; others come to connect with people going through similar situations and some just come to support it,” she continued. “Lots of these have traditionally run out of personal care homes … we also want communities to realize dementia is not just in the late stages of life in a personal care home. This is happening to many families.”
She noted the walks help support valuable resources and services like the society’s First Link client support program.
“First Link is a really important part of our health care program where a health care provider sees a person has dementia, and we need to equip them, and we need to support them,” said Atkinson. “We keep promoting that the more we know about dementia, the more we’re actually going to be able to adapt our society to it and help them.”
The walk is the Alzheimer Society’s largest nationwide fundraiser that gives Manitobans an opportunity to support over 18,400 Manitobans currently living with dementia as well as their care partners.
“The number of Manitobans living with dementia is expected to more than double by 2050, so the need for resources and support has never been greater,” said Erin Crawford, program director and incoming CEO at the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.
“If you’ve known someone with dementia, come walk with us,” Crawford added. “It’s a fun, family-friendly event that really shows the people participating they are not alone.”
Visit alzheimer.mb.ca/wfa2023 to learn more about the walk and to register.
