THUNDER BAY – Over 100 people were out and walking at Marina Park on Saturday for the 29th annual IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's.
For the first time since 2019, Thunder Bay residents gathered together and walked three kilometres to honour the over 240 thousand individuals living with dementia in Ontario.
The event is meant to raise funds for supports for local families, care partners, and individuals living with dementia, to receive counselling, support groups, and education sessions from the Alzheimer's Society at no cost to them.
Executive Director Pam Gerrie said the walk is important because it raises awareness for Alzheimer's and dementia in the community.
"There's such a stigma. And stigma is our biggest barrier for people with a memory loss. There are a lot of people who live well with a diagnosis or dementia. It doesn't mean that your life is over,” she said.
“It means that you have something different about you, and it's okay, and we're here to help. So the significance of this walk, really raises the importance of bringing awareness to the community, breaking down those stigma barriers, and knowing that it's okay to walk through our doors and ask for help."
Thunder Bay and area residents who were unable to participate in this years walk but would still like to show support can donate online by visiting the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's website.
