Steps taken towards dementia support

MORE than three-hundred people put on their walking, running and jog shoes over the weekend as part of Dementia Australia’s annual Memory Walk and Jog fundraiser event.

Taking laps around Lake Wendouree and North Gardens on Sunday morning, participants helped raise more than $50,000.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said the effort was a resounding success.

“There was an outstanding show of support from the Ballarat community who turned out in such large numbers for another year,” she said.

“So many people impacted by dementia find these events a great way to connect with others in similar circumstances. It is such an important day and your support means the world.

“It is only through the hard work of our wonderful volunteers that the success of this event is possible.”

The Ballarat event is one of 22 Memory Walk and Jog initiatives slated for 2024.

The annual initiative is aimed at supporting the more-than-400,000 Australians living with dementia, and the series goal is to reach more than $2 million.

Bigger Hearts Dementia Alliance Ballarat’s Kay Miller has been taking part in the event for four years, and helped run the organisation’s information stand.

She was joined on the walk by two of her sisters, one of whom was diagnosed with younger onset dementia late last year.

“We’d never taken part in the walk together before,” she said. “It was something my sister who’s living with dementia wanted to do after she saw a pamphlet for it at her GP.

“We’re pleased we were able to do it with her. There’s not many things you can do with someone with dementia in a social context that isn’t challenging both for the person with dementia and their carers.

“The memory walk, not only does it raise money for Dementia Australia, but it provides that space where they can get out with people where their dementia doesn’t matter.

“One particular thing for my sister, it brought her real joy seeing those bright orange t-shirts as they walked ahead of her around the lake.”