Alzheimer campaign making a difference
This year’s fundraising goal is $85,000 for local Alzheimer chapter
When Earl Warren was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in March 2015, he knew very little about the irreversible, progressive brain disorder.
“We were both working at General Motors, we had three grown children, a grandson and we were in the prime of our lives,” said his wife, Jori. “Needless to say, we really didn’t know what having Alzheimer’s really meant.”
Earl was 53 at the time of his diagnosis. He and Jori had been gearing up for their retirement and then, with his diagnosis, they found their dreams for retirement were going to be very different than what would become their reality.
The Warrens found they were left with more questions than they had answers.
“It changed everything,” said Earl of the diagnosis.
To help make sense of their new reality, the couple headed to the Alzheimer Society Niagara Region office on Ontario Street in St. Catharines.
“We received much-needed support and information, but most importantly we found a community of people who understand what we were facing and what we were feeling,” said Jori. “We have learned how to live well with Alzheimer’s. We get up each day and we choose happy.”
According to Alzheimer Society Niagara Region there are 10,000 people living in Niagara with various forms of dementia. Last year alone, there were 1,900 new referrals for programming in Niagara.
“We help thousands of families every year,” said CEO Teena Kindt.
In order to keep helping those families, fundraising is key. Kindt said 35 per cent of the branch’s programs are not funded, so they have to raise the $500,000 needed to offer those services each year.
That’s where the Alzheimer Society’s Coffee Break campaign comes in, helping to fill that funding gap. It started 23 years ago in Niagara and has since grown to become a national campaign.
Last Thursday marked the national kickoff date for the annual event, which sees community groups, businesses and organizations host coffee breaks and events with proceeds going to the Alzheimer Society.
This year’s honorary campaign chair, Wade Stayzer, chief member experience officer with Meridian Credit Union, hosted a lunchtime kickoff event in the parking lot of the Lake Street credit union branch in St. Catharines, with Johnny Rocco’s Pizza Truck serving up woodoven pizzas and Marble Slab Creamery handing out ice cream.
“Meridian is committed to building stronger communities and we know that when it comes to Alzheimer’s and dementia, you don’t have to look far to find someone who has been impacted — your friends, your family, yourself,” said Stayzer. “We want to do our part within the community and on national Coffee Break Day we want to ensure that all of our branches across Niagara are doing their part to raise awareness to help the society raise the funds it needs.”
Kindt said people wanting to host their own coffee break events can register online or with the society and they’ll receive a coffee break kit. Many municipalities across Niagara have come on board to host their own coffee breaks, and Kindt said events can be held any time between now and December.
Every little bit helps, she said. This year’s fundraising goal is $85,000.