Locals encouraged to take part in Alzheimer’s Memory Walk next month
The people of Westmeath and surrounding counties are being encouraged to take part in the third successive Alzheimer’s Memory Walk, supported by Irish Life, which is taking place nationwide on Sunday, September 18.
People can choose their own local route for the event, or take part in one of the organised walks in various parts of the country, such as the one being held at The Mall Walking Trail in Longford town at 3pm that Sunday afternoon.
The family-friendly walk is an important fundraiser for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI), and is taking place during World Alzheimer's Month, 2022.
The ASI is hoping that 3,000 walkers across Ireland will help to raise €250,000 for vital services that help to support so many people with dementia and their family carers across Ireland.
An estimated 1,154 people live with dementia in Westmeath, and 64,000 people live with dementia in Ireland which will more than double in the next 25 years to over 150,000 by 2045.
Those taking part in the organised walk in Longford are being asked to donate €20 (adults) and €8 (kids) towards the charity.
Participants planning to take part in the walk, wherever they may be, can register online (at www.memorywalk.ie) for a Walk Participant Pack and t-shirt.
People are also being encouraged to share photos and videos of their walk on social media, using the hashtags #ASIMemoryWalk, #LetsWalkTogether and #PowerOfSupport.
The ASI Dementia Advisor for Westmeath/Longford, and organiser of the The Mall Walking Trail Walk, Clair Harte said: "Myself and Pauline Lee have decided to become local champions in county Longford.
"I work as a dementia advisor for the ASI and Pauline is the Project Manager Implementation of dementia Strategy within the HSE. We want to help raise funds to help make a difference to the lives of people living dementia and their carers.
"We are walking for the 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland and for their carers, for the people living with dementia and their families that we work with. We are also walking for our own loved ones who have also lived with dementia."