The Walk for Alzheimer’s, sponsored by IG Wealth Management, will take place on Sunday, May 29 at Gardner Park in Abbotsford to promote awareness of those impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia. Almost every year, 76,000 people are diagnosed with the disease in Canada, resulting in thousands of people living with memory loss, behavioural changes, and problems with communication and reasoning.
The Walk will benefit the Alzheimer’s Society, which aims to fund research that explores the impacts of dementia and to find better treatment and care options so the disease will no longer take the lives of so many people. The Alzheimer’s Society Research Program is one of Canada’s largest organizations that provides opportunities for research grants. They have accumulated nearly $67 million in grants and awards, and are actively bringing new, innovative discoveries to the scientific community.
Jordan Penner has been organizing the committee for planning this year’s event, along with spearheading the logistics, and engaging with members of the community who have experienced or are currently living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Penner graduated from UFV in 2021 with a bachelor of science. When asked what got him engaged with the organization, Penner explained how his personal experiences became his motivation.
“For me, Alzheimer’s is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. I have family members who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and I’ve seen their progression with the disease going from the early stages of it to the later stages, and then, ultimately, them passing away due to the disease.
“So to me, this is a cause that I think is really important to raise more awareness for, and also make those that have experienced living with Alzheimer’s and dementia and their families really feel supported through the entire process.
“I think that the big thing about the Walk is it’s really a time for our entire community … to come together and really learn from those who have lived with Alzheimer’s and dementia about their experiences, and also learn from the families.
“I’ve found that there are tons of young people that are excited to be involved with the Walk,” said Penner. “Also, much older people, people many years my senior, who are very excited to be involved. So, I’ve really found that there isn’t a single age demographic that is engaged specifically with the Walk, but instead, this seems to be something that transcends all age groups.
“At the Abbotsford Walk, each year we have the Walk dedicated to someone called an honouree: somebody who is either living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, or somebody who is supporting them. For example, this year, our honouree is somebody named Percy Barnes. Their story is really powerful because they communicate not only how Alzheimer’s and dementia affect the individual, but how it affects their families as well.
“I just really want to encourage people to come on Sunday, May 29, from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. The Walk for Alzheimer’s is a great cause. We’re going to try and make it a fun event. We’re going to have some food there, some raffle prizes, and some live music, and it’s a great opportunity where even if you aren’t someone who has been personally affected by Alzheimer’s, it’s a great time to learn and hear other people’s experiences.”
