The IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s in Grey-Bruce reached a new milestone by raising more than $100,000 to support local people living with dementia. This is a first for the local society who are overjoyed with the result.
“This is a 20% increase over last year’s total and 40% growth since we launched this fundraiser four years ago,” said Stephen Musehl, Executive Director at the Alzheimer Society of Grey-Bruce. “The organization is so fortunate to have the support of this incredible community.”
More than 600 people took part in the event, which happened on Saturday May 11th in four communities: Hanover, Owen Sound, Thornbury, and the Town of the Blue Mountains. Musehl knows that “none of this would be possible without amazing fundraisers, wonderful volunteers, incredible sponsors, and generous donors. This was our first time into the Town of the Blue Mountains and they blew us away by exceeding our goal of $10,000 and raised more than $15,000!”
“This increase in fundraising is crucial for our continued effectiveness,” said Musehl, “we know that Grey-Bruce is the 3rd oldest population per capita in Canada and we are seeing that in the number of calls, questions, and clients we are getting.” In order to meet present and future demand the organization must fundraise 40% of the annual budget. “The success of this event goes a long way to ensuring that there will continue to be timely and informed help for people living with dementia and their care partners.”
The Alzheimer Society of Grey-Bruce supports more than 1,000 local families with one-to-one support, education and an array of local programs and services. “Almost all of our services are completely free,” said Musehl, “a few programs have minimal fees that we can waive, but that is only possible with so much support from the community.”
Musehl acknowledges, “The society benefitted from some really amazing fundraising this year.” The Memory Café, a fundraising team comprised of members from one of the organizations support groups raised more than $7,585. Peter Carter, of Tiverton, raised $5,085 as the events top individual fundraiser. Carter has now raised close to $70,000 all time in support of local people living with dementia.
Two corporate partners added their staff and their fundraising. IG Wealth Management staff attended all four walks creating a ton of awareness and raising more than $5,000 across the four events. Finally, Southbridge Care Homes, the parent company that runs Errinrung Long Term Care, Georgian Heights, and Mapleview, a 31 person team and held a post event bbq. Their efforts raised $3,335 in support of local people living with dementia.
If you, or someone you know, is living with dementia, the Society asks that you give them a call and see what support may be available. Musehl credits his staff, “they have a lot of experience. Sometimes we work with clients for five, six, seven plus years from the time of their diagnosis right through to the later stages.” You can contact the Alzheimer Society of Grey-Bruce directly by phone (519) 376-7230 or email [email protected]
source: media release, Alzheimer Society of Grey-Bruce
