HAROLD McKenzie was diagnosed with vascular dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s disease in 2016.<\/p>\n
Brittany Rose, his granddaughter said without the support of Dementia Australia life would have been even harder for her Granny and the rest of the family.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing able to call the helpline at Dementia Australia and access information from their website was so important to us,\u201d Ms Rose said.<\/p>\n
Ms Rose has organised a Ballarat DIY Memory Walk in honour of her late grandfather, as a way of giving back to an organisation that provided her family with invaluable support during such a difficult time.<\/p>\n
\u201cPa was an avid walker, so walking the shores of Lake Wendouree is an appropriate way to remember him and raise funds for Dementia Australia,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people don\u2019t know what the organisation does and how it helps families, carers and those suffering from this heartbreaking disease.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Rose said her family want to break down the stigma and start a conversation in the community about dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of my friends didn\u2019t how to broach the subject or talk to me when Pa was diagnosed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
All funds raised will go to Dementia Australia, for allocation to research, education and essential resources that help families deal with the disease.<\/p>\n
The Ballarat DIY Memory Walk in honour of Mr Harold McKenzie will take place on Saturday, 13 April starting at Lake Wendouree foreshore opposite Loreto College from 9am to 11am.<\/p>\n