Run and walk for Alzheimers draws over 1K participants in Calgary [Video]

Close to 2,000 people participated in a walk and run to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s Sunday in Prince’s Island Park.

The event, hosted by Alzeheimer’s Calgary, hoped to raise $350,000 to support programs and services for the families of the estimated 20,000 people living with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia in Calgary, said executive director Barb Ferguson.

“Awareness is really important because that number is set to double in 10 years,” Ferguson said. “Age is the greatest risk factor for getting dementia. So as our population ages, the numbers are going to increase accordingly.”

Ferguson said in an interview that the age range of participants spanned from newborns all the way to people in their 90s, with some families participating for the past 15 years.

“So many people are impacted by this, this condition, dementia, the whole family is so it’s great to see families come out,” she said.

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