Family's Alzheimer’s Memory Walk criss-crosses the mid-west

The Fahy families are pushing themselves to the limit as they undertake an epic 125km five-day self-titled ‘Irish Camino’ adventure as part of the first ever virtual Alzheimer’s Memory Walk to raise much-needed funds for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
 
Chief family organiser, Marian Purcell, from Broadford, Co Limerick, left her local village with her family on Saturday at 9.30am and will arrive in Kilfenora, Co Clare on Wednesday afternoon, September 23rd, to complete their own five-day Alzheimer’s Memory Walk.
 
Dementia is very close to Marian’s heart and she was inspired to organise this adventure by her mother, Kay Fahy, who lived with dementia for seven years and sadly passed away in 2014. The whole family have come together to walk in her memory and keep her memory alive.
 
Ever since the passing of their mother, Kay, on Christmas Day 2014, the family have continued to raise funds for The ASI but due to Covid-19 restrictions this year they have been unable to organise any of the usual fundraising events so as a family they are undertaking this walk as a means to raise much needed funds for The ASI.
 
Today well over 2,500 walkers around Ireland are making every step count for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s first ever Virtual Alzheimer’s Memory Walk, proudly supported by Iceland.
 
Monday, September 21st is World Alzheimer’s Day 2020. Family member Marian Purcell said: “Dementia is a cause close to the heart of my family and many others in Ireland. We are all doing this Alzheimer’s Memory Walk in memory of my mother, Kay, who passed away in 2014 after living with Alzheimer’s for seven years. She was a very special person to us all and we are doing this to keep her memory alive. My family usually do the Camino Adventure with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, but it was cancelled this year because of Covid-19, it would have been our sixth year doing it. But this 125km walk over five days from Broadford to Kilfenora is our ‘Irish Camino’ and is the next best thing! The whole family are really looking forward to making every step count. We’re all just looking forward to raising some money for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland that do such great work in communities around Ireland and we’ll hopefully also put a bit of a spot light on dementia and to encourage people to talk about dementia more. We need to talk about it more as a society. This was just something small that the whole family could do. I would like to thank all of my family for coming on board and joining in, they have all been so supportive.”

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s Head of Fundraising Mairéad Dillon said: “We are so grateful to the thousands of people taking part in our very first Alzheimer's Memory Walk right across the country and even as far as Australia and America. This walk, although virtual, is giving people the opportunity to walk with and show their support for the thousands of people living with dementia in Ireland. The Fahy family are just one example of how families can continue to remember their loved ones in such a wonderful way.” 
 
Alzheimer’s Memory Walk is a family-friendly series of walks suitable for all ages and abilities to unite together with their families and communities to raise awareness and funds for dementia supports.  

The first Alzheimer’s Memory Walk went virtual to provide a wonderful opportunity for everyone to walk together, while staying apart to help raise much needed funds for people living with dementia in their communities all across Ireland.
 
All of today’s walkers from around Ireland are helping to raise much-needed funds for vital services that are helping to support so many people with dementia and their family carers across Ireland through the COVID-19 public health emergency and the aftermath of the lockdown.
 
The ASI has also implemented new ways of providing ASI supports remotely to our clients:
 
•    Expansion of National Helpline which offers a 1:1 call with a Dementia Nurse
•    Alternative Activity Therapy for people living with dementia and their family carers who availed of day care prior to COVID-19
•    Social Calls and Activity Engagement Calls (with Activity packs) on a weekly or biweekly basis
•    Online Support Group for Family Carers to provide support and information to family carers