Wright and Coll in starting lineup
and under in their losses. They ran out of steam against competition leaders West Coast last weekend. After trailing for most of the match, the Coasters made their comeback in the final minute of the nine minutes injury time to win 43-41 with a converted try.
Mid-Canterbury’s first round loss to Horowhenua-Kapiti was also a tight affair, but like South Canterbury didn’t really get out of the gate in the first round.
If it does become a wet match, South Canterbury will want their lineout to continue improving as kicking for territory will become important. Patience will also be key as most sides can keep pressure on for 40 minutes, but South Canterbury will hope that superior fitness and a strong bench can help take the game away from Mid Canterbury in the second half.
Kick off 2.30pm at the Ashburton Showgrounds. In the curtain raiser South Canterbury A take on Mid Canterbury A and need to win with a bonus point to get back to the top of their table.
South Canterbury (from 1): Tokoma’ata Fakatava, Ben Hewitson, Dan Suter, Anthony Amato, Reegan O’Gorman, Cam Russell, Nick Strachan (c), Kieran Coll, Willie Wright, Miles Medlicott, Kalavini Leatigaga, Joel Smith, Shane Anderson, Clarence Moli, Zac Saunders (subs) Cameron Hucker, Afalia Taelega, Solomone Lavaka, Pita Halaifonua,Theo Davidson, Reilly Cormack, James WilsonBishop. The number of people living with dementia in New Zealand is expected to almost triple in the next three decades making the 7th annual Timaru Memory Walk all the more important.
The walk in the Timaru Botanical Gardens this morning, is designed to show support for people affected by the brain wasting syndrome now, and to campaign for change for the future.
Alzheimers South Canterbury supports 250 people in the region affected by dementia and board chair Karen Foster said although dementia mainly affected older people, it was not a normal part of ageing.
South Canterbury has one of the highest ratios of elderly per capita in the country and this is increasing, Foster said. In 2012 the South Canterbury population aged over 65 represented 20 per cent of the population, and in 2018 that figure reached 22 per cent of South Canterbury’s total population.
The NZ Dementia Impact Report 2017 estimated there had been a 29 per cent increase in numbers of people with dementia in five years – from 48,182 people in 2011 to 62,287 in 2016. It is predicted 170,212 people will have dementia by 2050.
Foster said although statistics indicate South Canterbury will have more cases of dementia as the population ages, the notfor-profit organisation has a policy of not turning anyone away.
‘‘Our focus is on empowering the individual with dementia and their families/ whanau to positively deal with the challenges of the dementia journey whilst maintaining a good quality of life.’’
The South Canterbury District Health Board funds Alzheimers South Canterbury seven per cent of its funding base, the remainder needed is obtained through charity grants and fundraising.
The public are invited to the walk, wearing purple to show unity, from 11am at The Park Centre in the Timaru Botanic Gardens.