The Nanaimo edition of the Walk for Alzheimer's takes place on Sunday, May 26, starting at 10 a.m. at the Nanaimo Yacht Club. (400 Newcastle Ave.) (Alzheimer Society of B.C.)

By Jordan Davidson

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NANAIMO — An event designed to raise awareness and support about a disease which affects thousands of Canadians is happening in Nanaimo and across the country this weekend.

The 2024 Walk for Alzheimer’s takes place on Sunday, May 26 at the Nanaimo Yacht Club (400 Newcastle Ave.) with registration opening at 10 a.m. and the walk commencing at 11.

Nanaimo residents Sue and Andrew Dysart have been living with Andrew’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis since 2019, with Sue telling NanaimoNewsNOW her husband was referred to a specialist when he began experiencing behavioural changes, mood swings, and memory loss.

“You get thankful that they’ve got Alzheimer’s and I know that sounds ridiculous,” said Sue. “But when the doctor came and told me he had Alzheimer’s, he said to the doctor, ‘thank you, now I know what’s wrong with me.’ He’s been very positive about it.”

The former Nanoose Bay residents moved to Nanaimo shortly after his diagnosis in order to be closer to medical resources and support groups.

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They began attending the social and fitness program Mind in Motion through the Alzheimer Society of B.C., and have been regulars in the weekly groups for over two years now.

“Andrew enjoys it…the thing most people don’t realize with dementia and Alzheimer’s in most cases, they need the social side of it, and they don’t get it. Like, you got to really make an effort.”

Sue Dysart said their first clue about her Andrew’s disagnosis was when her husband, an avid golfer, was having trouble getting his ball out of a sand trap. (Alzheimer Society of B.C.)

As his primary caregiver, Sue said working and learning about Andrew’s disease together has brought them closer.

“His acceptance was so positive,” she says. “For example, I have respite care twice a week. He’s okay with it because he knows it helps him to stay at home longer.”

While incredibly grateful for the support and services received through the Alzheimer Society of Canada and B.C., Sue said more needs to be done at all levels of government to support those with Alzheimer’s as well as their caregivers.

“They haven’t built a home here in years. I don’t know what it’s like over on the mainland but here there’s two homes for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s. That’s it. But there’s no support here…everything is so backed up.”

According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, over 650,000 Canadians are currently living with dementia, with that number expected to grow to nearly two million by 2050.

Over $47 million has been raised through various Walks for Alzheimer’s since 2015.

For more information on how to donate, you can click here to go walkforalzheimers.ca.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow