UP to 300 people are expected to participate in Alzheimer’s Australia’s memory walk and jog at Point Nepean National Park, Sunday 24 January.
The fundraising event is part of Alzheimer’s Australia’s efforts to raise awareness about dementia across Victoria.
They estimate that 3240 of the state’s 81,000 people with dementia live on the Mornington Peninsula.
Without a medical breakthrough that figure is predicted to rise to 10,153 people by 2050.
The memory walk and Jog starts at the Quarantine Station with a 7 kilometre run at 8am, and 3.5km walk and 3.5km run at 9.30am. The event finishes at 11am.
The idea of holding a memory walk and jog started in Homebush NSW and has grown, with events held late last year at Geelong and Bendigo. Other events are planned early this year at Doncaster and Albury Wodonga.
Alzheimer’s Australia hopes to raise $50,000 through the event at Point Nepean.
“Many participants walk in memory of loved ones who have died from dementia and for those living with a diagnosis,” spokesperson Christine Bolt said.
For more information visit reg.memorywalk.com.au/vic/mornington-peninsula/
The national dementia helpline number is 1800 100 500, fightdementia.org.au/vic
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 19 January 2016
