When Whistler held its first Walk for Alzheimer’s event in 2017—a smaller version of the larger, annual Alzheimer’s Society fundraiser—no one knew how much money the community would raise.
Organizers were pleasantly surprised.
“We raised a little over $10,000, which was very surprising for the society for a small community that just came out of nowhere to them, because we hadn’t been included before. It’s mainly been in larger communities,” said Erika Durlacher, committee chair for Whistler’s IG Wealth Management Walk For Alzheimer’s.
Each year has proved more successful than the last. Though COVID-19 threw the local organizing committee a curveball in 2020, members still managed to raise funds through individual walks around their properties and local parks. The walk relaunched in-person last year with a significant turnout, and organizers hope to keep the momentum up this year for its sixth instalment.
This year’s walk is set for Sunday, May 28.
“I see the need in the community for this now. They need that support,” Durlacher said. “The community is aging, and there are many wonderful people who were part of our foundation here many years ago, and they don’t want to leave, and they have their homes here, and this is their community, but they need support.”
Alzheimer’s is a severe neurodegenerative disease that leads to memory impairment, dementia and a slow loss of bodily functions that can last years, ultimately leading to death.
Between 50 to 60 million people live with the disease across the globe, with the majority of cases affecting people over 65. Approximately 85,000 British Columbians are living with it, or some form of dementia, and more than two-thirds of British Columbians have personally known someone who has had it.
As Whistler ages, the issue of cognitive decline will become a more significant challenge for many people and their families in the community. According to Statistics Canada, between 2016 and 2021, Whistler’s population aged 65 and over doubled from 555 (6.3 per cent of the total population) to 1,265 (nine per cent).
There is growing support for those with dementia in Whistler; following a successful pilot, the Whistler Mature Action Committee (MAC) created a permanent Making Connections program that helps people with dementia and their caregivers by slowing cognitive decline and allowing them to socialize with others in the same situation.
According to Durlacher, the next step for Whistler is to become a recognized, dementia-friendly community—a process that will include improved education in the community and developing and implementing a dementia-friendly action plan.
“We actively train various sectors within a municipality, such as [the] library, recreation, first responders, transportation, community centres, etc., and have educational materials and resources readily available,” Durlacher said. “If there is an opportunity to bring training to any of these groups (or more) in the near future, as we build momentum for a dementia-friendly Whistler, we would be happy to arrange.”
Online registration is now open for the Whistler walk, and is encouraged. However, in-person registration is allowed and begins at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church on May 28, with the walk around the Whistler Golf Course starting shortly after at 10:30 a.m.
The fundraiser will include food donated by Nesters Market, a silent auction, and a raffle for various prizes. The funds go directly to raising awareness of Alzheimer’s and helping folks impacted by the disease connect with community, information and support. Thanks to the Clark Family Foundation, all donations made online before the walk will be matched up to $10,000.
Learn more about the event at walkforalzheimers.ca
