Some of the close to 100 people that took part in the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s in Nanaimo on Sunday, May 29th. (Kyle Ireland)

By Kyle Ireland

in person

‘There is no cure right now:’ Nanaimo Alzheimer’s walk focusing on fundraising and support

May 29, 2022 | 11:42 AM

NANAIMO — It’s a walk with two purposes: to raise money in the fight against Alzheimer’s, and to provide support and community for those living with the condition.

The Walk for Alzheimer’s event was in person for the first time in two years, on Sunday, May 29. It started at the Nanaimo Yacht Club with around 100 people participating.

Rosanne Philbrook, a support and education coordinator with the Alzheimer’s Association in Nanaimo told NanaimoNewsNOW they’re hoping to raise $20,000 this year.

“The fundraising goes towards research and hopefully a cure one day. Sadly there is no cure right now but we do have medications, there are some that people find affective in the early stage to maintain their abilities.”

Funds raised in Nanaimo will go towards services for those on Vancouver Island, with walks in other Island communities also contributing.

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Close to 20 walks are planned in B.C. and last year’s events across the province helped raise $787,000.

The event was a virtual one for the past two years, but it was a way to keep the spirit of the event alive despite the circumstances, Philbrook said.

Alzheimer’s is a debilitating disease which causes extensive damage to a person’s brain.

Two-in-three British Columbians have known someone who is living with or who has lived with dementia and it’s not exclusive to a certain age bracket.

“That’s one of the myths about Alzheimer’s disease, sadly there’s people even in their 40’s that can get it. There is a larger and larger populations that we’re finding in young on-sets which is under the age of 65.”

For the central and north Island a variety of online and in person resources are available.

“Some of it is geared for both the person with dementia as well as a care partner. We also have a Minds in Motion program that is a partnership with the different rec centres and communities that is a social fitness program.

Philbrook said the last two years presented different challenges for families with elders at risk for Alzheimer’s, with a reduced number of social visits leading to less opportunity to detect subtle changes in their loved ones.

She added many of the signs of Alzheimer’s can often be mixed in with typical signs of aging.

“With aging we do a little bit more get more forgetful but it’s more when it becomes of the functionally disruptive, now your memory is impacting you that is causing family members to be a little bit more concerned.”

The Walk is Canada’s biggest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias with last year’s walk raising $5.1 million nationwide.

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