Hundreds walk for Alzheimer's in Assiniboine Park
Hundreds of people gathered in Assiniboine Park Saturday to walk in support of those living with dementia in our province.
The IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's brought together more than 1,000 Manitobans raising funds for the Alzheimer's Society of Manitoba (ASM). Incoming CEO Erin Crawford said she was thrilled at the turnout. "There's a huge line of people out walking right now in honour and memory of people with dementia," she said. "It's just wonderful. It's a great day today!"
Participants walked a predetermined route through the park beginning at 10 a.m. Crawford said the money raised is fundamental to the programming they offer throughout the year. "We offer support groups for people, we give information about what is dementia, and what kinds of things are you likely to encounter," she said.
ASM also offers education workshops from experts in the field, as well as recreation programs. "(They're) fun opportunities to exercise a little bit and just visit with other people in similar sorts of circumstances," said Crawford.
The national event also funds Alzheimer's research in Canada. "Because we know at the end of the day we want to see some progress on diagnosis and treatment of dementia," Crawford said.
More than 18,000 people in Manitoba are affected by dementia. Crawford said that number is going to double in the next 25 years. "We did a survey a couple of years ago, and 62 per cent of Manitobans said they have had a close friend or family member with dementia," she added.
Alzheimer's is the most common of the diseases that fall under the umbrella term of "dementia." More than 67 per cent of all dementia cases are Alzheimer's.
Crawford said the signs of dementia can appear years before a formal diagnosis. "Once you talk to someone who has dementia and you talk to their families, something's got to be done to help support them through that journey. And that’s why this is so important for me," she said.
"It really is impacting more Manitobans than not, and I think you see that with the number of people who are here today."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.