For those who care
National Volunteer Week puts focus on those who help others
Why do we volunteer? Is it because we have a lot of time on our hands? Are we passionate about a cause that we have a personal connection to?
Maybe we have a skill or experience that we can offer to help others. Whatever your reason for volunteering, we know that wonderful things happen when people work together and make a meaningful contribution to our community.
National Volunteer Week is April 15-21. This week is a time to celebrate and thank the millions of volunteers across Canada.
Right here in Cape Breton, it’s an opportunity for me to thank all of the wonderful volunteers I have the privilege of working with year-round, to help support those living with dementia.
Our volunteers always wear more than one hat – even when volunteering. One of the places that you will see many of our volunteers is at our Walk for Alzheimer’s coming up on Sunday, May 6 at Centre 200 in Sydney.
From doing a registration table to being route marshals, a lot of those volunteers also sit on committees, run support groups or facilitate education sessions for the society, all year long. The walk is a major fundraiser for the Alzheimer Society and all funds raised in Cape Breton stay in Cape Breton to support families living with dementia. Before the walk starts (doors open at 11 a.m.) you can come and learn what supports are available within our community, gather information
or even get your team picture taken by White Photography.
I feel honoured to know so many wonderful volunteers. Sandra Kelly is one of them.
Sandra is a retired teacher who lives in Cape Breton and is a key volunteer for the Walk for Alzheimer’s. She got involved with the society because of her personal connection to the disease; Sandra was a caregiver for her mom who lived with Alzheimer’s disease.
“It was hard, especially at first, to struggle through the amount of time and energy necessary to manage her care and luckily we had a team of eight family members who could share some of the load,” says Sandra. “When my mom passed away in 2006, I remember thinking this is happening to others right now. How can I help? What information can I share that might benefit others?”
Shortly after that, Sandra saw an ad in the Cape Breton Post announcing an Alzheimer’s Walk.
“I got involved in raising awareness and funds and the more I did, the more I wanted to do,” says Sandra. “I can only hope that more people affected in some way by this disease join our fight because if we don’t do it, who will?”
Gather some friends, family members and co-workers and put in a team for the walk. Together, we can make a difference for families right here at home. Visit www.walkforalzheimers.ca
or call 1-800611-6345 to sign up or donate today.
Catherine Shepherd is the education co-ordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia in Cape Breton. She lives in North Sydney and happily spends her day providing resources and support for people on the dementia journey. To reach the society, call toll-free 1-800-611-6345 or email alzheimer@asns.ca.