The Alzheimer’s Society of Kenora and Rainy River Districts holds its Alzheimer’s walk in Fort Frances this weekend.

It is a fundraising event that helps raise money to maintain the programs and services offered to people with dementia and their families.

Client Services Coordinator Mary O’Conner says the walk returns after being absent the last few years.

“It’s been a rough couple of years with COVID and then last year the flood. But this year, we are back again at the Sorting Gap Marina. Our walk is taking place on Saturday, June 17. Registration will start at 10 a.m,” says O’Conner.

There are also prizes to be one for the top fundraisers as a group or individual and a barbeque for the participants.

Similar walks are held elsewhere in the region.

O’Connor says events like this help keep their services and program available at no cost.

“It’s really important to us as the Alzheimer’s Society that all of our services for the family are free. When one person has dementia, the whole family has dementia. It takes a whole family to support.”

“A lot of times when we help the families, it’s the spouse, it’s the children, it’s the grandchildren and even friends. If you have a good friend that’s developing dementia, you can call up and say, I have a really good friend, I really want to help. What can I do? Anybody like that can come and join our Society for free. There’s never a charge for anybody who has a loved one with dementia.”

The Society also has a monthly support group that meets on the third Thursday of every month.