A lot of people in Grey Bruce will be putting a more mileage on their sneakers today as the Alzheimer’s Society Grey Bruce holds its annual walk for memories fundraiser.
Executive Director Deborah Barker says this is their big fundraiser that is supported by hundreds of people in the region.
This year’s indoor walks will take place at West Hill Collegiate in Owen Sound, Hanover Heights School in Hanover and Saugeen District Secondary School in Port Elgin.
She says registration begins at 9 AM and the walk begins at 10 AM, and those taking part can either walk for the entire hour and a half or just do a portion of the walk.
Barker says the good thing about this walk is it takes place indoors and is an opportunity for both young and old to help raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.
She besides providing some exercise for those taking park, the Walk for Memories helps raise money to help finance the information, education support and counselling services the society provides for individuals, their families and their caregivers.
Barker says about 27 hundred people in Grey Bruce have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and another 7 thousand suffer from some form of a memory problem.
She says they have only reached about 13 per cent of those seven thousand as registered clients, so they have a lot more work to do to let people know of what services the society can provide for them.
Anyone who wants to register for the walk and collect pledges can do so on line at www.walkformemories.ca
In Port Elgin, organizer Judy MacKinnon says they hope to raise 15 thousand dollars which is about the same as last year.
She says the local walk is really a socializing time for family support members who have to deal with the disease.
MacKinnon says the walk also includes music, a lunch, a silent auction and door prizes.