VERNON – This weekend Okanagan residents up and down the valley will lace up their sneakers to raise money for dementia.
Each local event for the Walk for Alzheimer’s has an local honoree living with the disease.
Vernon’s honoree this year is Reg Watson.
“He dances. He is out having a lot of fun. An Alzheimer’s diagnosis does not have to be the end of everything for a person,” says Andy Erickson who helps organize the Vernon Walk for Alzheimer’s.
Watson acknowledges it can be difficult to live with Alzheimer’s, a disease that over time robs a person of their mental function and ability to take care of themselves.
“It is confusing. It is really down heartening at times and then other times you try to forget about it and carry on,” says Watson.
However, the disease hasn’t stopped him from leading an active life.
He and his friend Rose Doucette regularly attend a class for people with dementia and their caregivers.
“He is a clown in there actually,” laughs Doucette.
Now in his eighties, Watson hopes his story of life with dementia can show other patients they don’t have to face the illness alone.
“Definitely there is hope and if you just keep plugging away at it, everybody is going to chip and help you too,” says Watson. “That means a lot.”
Doucette and Watson will be among those taking part in this Sunday’s Walk for Alzheimer’s at Kal Tire Place.
Walks are also planned at Mission Creek Park in Kelowna and Skaha Lake Park in Penticton on Sunday.
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