About 30 people braved rainy weather to take part in the Saturday Walk for Alzheimer鈥檚 hosted at Chartwell 91原创 Gardens Retirement Community this Saturday in partnership with the Walnut Grove-Willoughby Business Association (WWBA).
Another 35 people, older residents of Chartwell, opted to walk indoors.
Chartwell community relations manager Lianne Thomlinson and her family were among the participants.
Thomlinson said the issue is close to her heart because she lost a great-aunt to Alzheimer鈥檚.
鈥淚t鈥檚 something I fear will happen to me and I鈥檇 like to find a cure,鈥� Thomlinson said.
WWBA chair Kimberly Wishenski said the numbers are startling.
鈥淭here are 740,000 people [in Canada] with Alzheimer鈥檚,鈥� Wishenski said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a lot. 鈥�
It was the second Walk for Alzheimer鈥檚 that the seniors complex at 8888 202 Street has hosted, but the first open to the public.
READ MORE: Public invited to Alzheimer walk in 91原创
It was a 鈥淲alk in a Box,鈥� where organizers choose their own date, their own people and then donate the proceeds to the Alzheimer鈥檚 society.鈥�
Last year鈥檚 walk raised close to $700 and had about 70 participants.
This year, there were about 65 participants and about $500 was raised.
Thomlison said there were 鈥渁 lot of cancellations鈥� likely due to the weather.
She is hoping there will be another next year.
鈥淓very little bit counts,鈥� she said.
Thomlinson said anyone who wants to help, can support their walk by donating directly to the Alzheimer Society of B.C, at .
.
_________________________________
Is there more to this story?
Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on or follow us on
_________________________________
