By Adam Donnelly

Kamloops walks for Alzheimer’s

May 8, 2017 | 4:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — In 2016, it’s estimated there were around 560,000 Canadians living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, and those numbers are expected to rise sharply over the next few decades. Yesterday in Kamloops, the annual Walk for Alzheimer’s was held at the Tournament Capital Centre, meant to raise funds for the local Alzheimer’s Society, and the people who rely on them for much needed support.

This year mark’s the 14th edition of the event, here in Kamloops. Hundreds took part in the walk, which raises money for Alzheimer’s research, as well as funding for the Alzheimer Society. Those funds allow the society to provide programs for those living with the disease, as well as those caring for a loved one with dementia, something Tara Hildebrand says is vitally important.

“People that are caregivers for people with dementia, the grief that they experience is much different. It’s like losing that person twice,” Hildebrand explained. “Throughout the disease, there’s changes occurring all the time, and they’re constantly re-adjusting to where this person is in their illness, so the grief response it continuous.”