One of the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease is age, but it’s not just a disease that affects the elderly.
As the population ages, more people will see someone they know develop Alzheimer’s or some other dementia.
That’s why Debbie Seto is so touched to see people of all ages participating in the Walk for Memories every year.
“It’s amazing … you have kids and parents with babies in strollers participating,” said the spokeswoman for the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County. “You see multi-generational groups walking together.”
More than 300 people are expected to attend this year’s Walk for Memories, held inside the Carlingwood Mall on Sunday morning. The event’s location is popular because of the weather conditions this time of year, Seto said.
Because of increased awareness of the disease, people are diagnosed younger, Seto said.
Since 1996, the event has raised more than $1.4 million across Ontario. Last year, Ottawa’s event brought in $120,000, and Seto hopes to duplicate that this weekend.
The money raised this weekend will stay in the area and go toward support programs and research initiatives.
According to Seto, approximately 12,000 people suffer from the disease in Ottawa and Renfrew County. Nationally, that number jumps to 500,000 people.
