Walk For Alzheimer's Returns

Wednesday, 8 January 2020 06:11

The Walk for Alzheimer's will be put on later this month in Woodstock and Tillsonburg.

WOODSTOCK/TILLSONBURG - The annual Walk for Alzheimer's is back again.

The walk is to help raise funds for people living with dementia so future generations can have a world without Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Executive Director for the Alzheimer's Society of Oxford Shelley Green says the Walk is the biggest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s in Canada.

"The walk for Alzheimer's is an important fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Society of Oxford. It raises just an incredible amount of money for the programs and services that we offer here, our organization is funded by about 58% of our budget by the government and the rest of the money needs to be raised each year which is about $470,000 through fundraising, donations, and sponsorships in order to offer a vast range of programs and services that we offer to our clients, and those who are working in care facilities and to the general public. The Walk for Alzheimer's is a very important event, it's our largest event of the year. This year our goal is $200,000 and we're quite confident that we can reach that because we have such an incredible and supportive community in Oxford County."

Last year the 37,000 people in the walk raised $6.2 million for the fund, which is the most ever raised in the history of the event and this year they have already raised over $9,000 for the cause.

The funds all go towards programs and services for people living with dementia and Alzheimer's and to support the awareness and education about dementia.

The Walk is more than just a fundraiser, it helps people living with the diseases that they are not alone in the community and that there are people who care enough about them to help stop the disease.

Green explains that they always need volunteers.

"Getting involved with the Walk is very simple, people can pick up a pledge sheet at Shoppers Drug Mart, at Pharmasave, Heart FM, our office on 575 Peel Street, and on our website."

They will take place in Woodstock Saturday, January 25 at the Oxford Auditorium from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, and in Tillsonburg Saturday, January 18th at the Lions Auditorium from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.