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Every community has one.
Communities that have more than one are really lucky because the dedicated volunteers are gilded.
Cynthia Skinner is one of them. She has led Investors Group's March for Alzheimer's over the past 21 years in her home town of Lourdes, a small community in Port-au-Port with just under 500 people.
Only hiker registered in Lourdes and she has raised more than $ 16,000 since she started.
A family member in Lourdes had already done fundraisers for Alzheimer's disease.
Henry Joe Drake, a parent of Skinner, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and eventually had to be admitted to a long-term care facility in Bay St. George.
To support people facing the same scenario, Teresa Drake and her family started a varied bingo to raise money.
"My father – Aloysius Drake, Jr., had Alzheimer's disease," Skinner said. "He was put at home in 1993. After going home, I decided to go for a walk and it started in 1997."
She likes to raise money to help the Alzheimer Society as much as she can and raise awareness about the disease in her community and beyond.
"Lourdes is a small community, about 500 people, so everyone knows everyone in the community."
Her first walk yielded $ 205 and this year she surpbaded $ 1,240, bringing her total to nearly $ 17,000 in the 21 steps.
"The people here are very supportive, many people in the community are aware of this and support me."
Skinner is accompanied by his walking partner and sister-in-law, Gail Skinner, for what 39, she calls a "rather long walk." She does not know "
" Lourdes is a small place, about 500 people, so everyone knows everyone in the community. "
Cynthia Skinner
"I'm 70, so I'm trying my best to stay healthy," she says.
"I'm in a group (Catholic Women's League) and tell them what I'm doing … They're all supporting me in this."
Skinner completed his march on May 25 this year. Because of the size of her community and the many people who support her every year, she contacts them early to see if they will continue to support them. This is becoming increasingly difficult as older people pbad through and the population declines because young people are looking for greener pastures. But she is looking diligently for new sponsors.
"Others leave the community in April to go to work and only come back in the fall.At sometimes they remember that they promised to help me, sometimes they forget, "she said.
Skinner is a retired teacher who spent 30 years teaching Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School and, one year after her retirement, started her school career. fundraising efforts.
Why People Walk
"The Walk raises awareness among communities about reducing stigma and connecting people to our programs and services" Jessica Flynn, Event Planner, Alzheimer Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, Inc.
"It is important for anyone with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers to know where to go to get treatment." help, "she added, programs and services are becoming more important as the number of seniors es dementia rose 83% between 2002 and 2013, nine elderly people being diagnosed every hour.
"We depend on these efforts to continue to deliver our programs and services, specifically our First Link program, which provides education and support to navigate the system, as well as to connect people with the necessary services while throughout their dementia journey, "said Flynn.
Flynn said in Newfoundland and Labrador that 8,666 people were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. A large number of caregivers are battling the disease, as highlighted by a recent report by the Canadian Institute of Health Information that 45% of unpaid caregivers suffer from a condition called "unhealthy caregivers". burnout and are unable to get out of it.
receive no financial support from the government for our basic services. We are counting on two flagship fundraising events – the Investors Group Alzheimer's Walk and Coffee Break – to raise enough funds to meet the growing needs of our province.
"Cynthia's fundraising efforts We continue to provide our indispensable programs and services.
Every year, more than 250 walks are held in communities across Canada. In 2017, more than 25,000 marchers participated, collectively raising more than $ 4.9 million
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