Carwash benefits Alzheimer Society
Mint Smartwash held its third annual charity barbecue on Aug. 25, with proceeds from the barbecue and raffles plus a portion of the washes sold that day going to support the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories.
“We chose the Alzheimer Society because some of our members families have been affected by dementia,” explained Darris Gartner, Lead Maintenance for Mint Smartwash on 3 Avenue South.
Marco Esposito, an employee at Mint Smartwash, offered his own reasons for doing the charity event. “We need to make people more aware since dementia creeps up on families. You don’t even realize until it is almost too late. My mother has dementia and her health declined quickly in a matter of months. It is an absolutely horrible disease.”
The staff at Mint Smartwash presented a cheque for $3,485 to Shari Remus, Community Relations for the Lethbridge Alzheimer Society office.
“We would like to thank Darris and all the staff at Mint Smartwash for selecting our agency to be the recipient of this year’s charity barbecue,” Remus said, adding, “The Alzheimer Society exists to support those with a diagnosis of dementia and their families, and these funds will be used to help with education and support groups.”
“Dementia is not a specific disease,” she continued. “It is an umbrella term to describe a variety of types of dementias including Alzheimer disease which accounts for 64 per cent of all dementias.”
Remus went on to explain that 25,000 people are diagnosed with dementia each year, and it is expected that within 15 years one million Canadians will be living with the disease.
The Alzheimer Society of Alberta and NWT consists of a provincial office and seven regional organizations across Alberta and the Northwest Territories. They provide educational and support services for those with dementia and their care partners.
Thanks to the generosity of customers and staff of Mint Smartwash, the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and NWT in Lethbridge can continue to do just that.