Alzheimer’s awareness crucial
A Kerikeri woman was inspired to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s after seeing her grandparents suffer with the disease.
Alyssa Ramey took part in last years Auckland Memory Walk and wondered if there was one in the Far North.
Upon contacting the Northland branch of Alzheimer’s New Zealand she found that 2015 was the first time a local walk had been held.
‘‘I was committed to helping with the 2016 event, if I can’t help my grandparents this is my way of helping.’’
Kerikeri is holding one of three Northland walk events which supports Alzheimers World Awareness Day and will begin at 12pm on September 18 at the Kerikeri Domain.
‘‘Whoever turns up we are thankful.’’
Ramey wants to raise awareness that there are services available.
Two-thirds of people with dementia have Alzheimer’s making it the most common form of dementia.
Each person may experience different symptoms of the disease but the most common include changes in memory, thinking, behaviour, personality and emotions.
According to Alzheimer’s New Zealand it is estimated that 53,000 people have dementia in the country with this number forecasted to be around 150,000 by 2050.
Ramey says she has learnt a lot about the disease from her own research that could have helped her family.
These include having easy to use home and care facilities.
Smoking, diabetes and obesity have all been found to be contributing factors to the disease.
Alzheimer’s Northland general manager Kevin Salmon says that by raising awareness participants can help de-stigmatise the disease.
He says of the 160,000 people who live in Northland, about 640 have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
‘‘The bigger problem is two in every three Kiwis are affected by dementia. That means a lot more people in Northland — often rural and far from help services — remain undiagnosed.
‘‘They and their families struggle with the debilitating effects of memory loss alone.’’
You can register online for the Memory Walk at alzheimers.org.nz/memorywalk or turn up on the day. The Mill in Kaikohe can box on knowing it has secured the next two years of funding.
A donation of $30,000 from transport company Mainfreight and its directors will allow volunteers Anthony Warren and Grant Komene to keep the gym open for another year.
Warren says ‘‘gobsmacked’’.
‘‘They are really close friends and I felt really humbled by it.’’
The donation will cover the running costs for one year and follows on from a Givealittle campaign which has raised close to $30,500.
The Mill sees up to 500 kids a month pass through its doors for free and is seeing growing support from the Kaikohe community.
Warren says they are now working with Erena Kara from Ngapuhi to look at how the runanga might be able to help with funding.
‘‘All of the donations have put us ahead of the eight ball, we can now plan and look for funding for years three and four.’’
‘‘A donation of $1.50 can mean as much to someone as a $10,000 one means to someone else.
‘‘That sort of thing is really neat.’’ he was