In the fight against dementia-related diseases, every penny counts.
Each year, thousands of people turn out to walk and skate, raising money to fight against Alzheimer’s.
This year is Beverly Fowler’s second participating in the Walk/Skate for Memories.
Last year, she walked for her husband Leo. This year she’s walking for Leo again, but she’s also out for her two best friends.
“Sad isn't it,” she says. “And there will be more and more.”
There are more than 7,500 people age 65 and older who live with dementia. But Debbie Islam, with the Alzheimer’s Society of Simcoe County, says that’s a conservative picture of the hold the disease has on Simcoe County.
“It doesn't include the folks under 65 with the disease,” she says.
And Alzheimer's and related dementia diseases are on the rise. By the year 2031, the Alzheimer Society estimates there will be 1.4 million Canadians living with some form of dementia.
Knowing that, Michelle Weller and her family are happy to participate in the Walk for Memories. Weller has lost a lot of family members to Alzheimer's and, bluntly put, she's scared.
“It's very prominent on both sides (of the family) so we want to raise money and awareness and hope that there's a cure so when my little ones get older, they won't suffer,” the Barrie resident says.
Barrie MP Patrick Brown lost his grandmother to the disease as well.
“To see someone so full of life, full of character, just be ripped of their identity, you never forget that,” he says.
Ronald West knows well what Brown is talking about. Eight years ago, West’s wife started showing signs of the disease.
Today he and his daughter walk for his wife, and still struggle with how the disease has affected all of their lives.
“It's tough, it's very tough,” he says. “I hate to say how many times I've cried."
Barrie's walk organizers expected to raise more than $5,000 today.
