Memory walkers Walter Walsh, Cheryl Morley, Kobe Donnelly, Arihia Mataira-Kapa and Dick Neill. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell
Memory walkers Walter Walsh, Cheryl Morley, Kobe Donnelly, Arihia Mataira-Kapa and Dick Neill strode out with purpose on Sunday to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s.
September is World Alzheimer’s Month and people across the country took part in the Memory Walk to bring attention to the growing dementia challenge.
Around 100
people took part in the Gisborne Memory Walk which finished at the Waikanae Surf Club where prizes were given out. Around 70,000 people in New Zealand suffer from dementia and this is forecast to almost triple to 170,000 by 2050.
Alzheimer’s Gisborne/Tairawhiti has two other fundraisers on this month including Cuppa for a Cause, which invites people to enjoy a cuppa, share some memories and make a donation, and Spud-in-a Bucket where people buy a bucket, grow some potatoes and win prizes for the heaviest spud, and largest crop.
This is the last week for people to pick up their spuds from the Alzheimer’s office in the Morris Adair Building at Gisborne Hospital from 9am to 4pm, until Wednesday and on Friday.
