Sunday, May 6 is the day slated for Canada’s biggest Alzheimer’s disease fundraiser: the Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer’s.
While that’s still nine months away, a chairperson and volunteers are already being sought to help organize the next walk.
“Our Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer’s volunteer committee chairs are not only instrumental to raising funds to support people affected by dementia, they are truly helping to ignite a social movement,” said Angie Kok, manager of resource development at the Alzheimer Society of B.C. “By bringing together the Cowichan community, you’re helping to ignite a movement to make dementia not just someone else’s problem, but everyone’s concern.”
She said becoming the walk’s chairperson “is a great opportunity for an organized, dedicated and collaborative individual to lead a team of like-minded individuals in order to make a real difference in the lives of people affected by the disease.”
The estimate is about 70,000 (and counting) British Columbians living with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.
The Alzheimer Society provides in-depth training, resources and ongoing support to ensure the event is a success and the chair will have the added comfort of knowing all the funds raised remain in the province to support local programs and services, as well as enabling research into the causes and cure of the disease.
The chairperson needs to be organized, enthusiastic and community-minded as their task will be to mobilize and inspire existing volunteers, to recruit new ones and to lead the team through promotion and the event day itself, as well as to recruit walkers to participate in the event on May 6.
The chairperson will work closely with Alzheimer Society of B.C. staff.
“Together, we implement ideas, share laughs, and work through challenges to plan a successful walk,” Kok said.
To apply for the chairperson role or to put your name forward as a general volunteer for the Cowichan Valley Walk committee, or even just to learn more about the roles, contact Stacy Ashton at sashton@alzheimerbc.org or 604-742-4937.
For more information on local resources that can help with dementia, visit www.alzheimerbc.org