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lifestyles
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 Peace Arch News
Sharing information about Alzheimer’s is most important job › from page 17 tionally taxing ordeal, Parton recalled. After being a witness to the devastation caused by Alzheimer’s, Parton was determined to get involved to help battle the disease. He began slowly, by running for fundraising events hosted by the Alzheimer’s Society of B.C. But it wasn’t until he took on his job in 2010 as a consultant for Investors Group that he found the perfect way to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research and support. “Two weeks after I started, I got an email from an advisor who was on the committee for the Walk for Memories for our office and was looking for someone to take over.
I read it and thought this was a position that would fit. I put it on and it was exactly what I wanted to do,” Parton said. Two years in the position and Parton is now the co-chair of the committee for the 2013 Walk of Memories, which will be taking place Jan. 27 at Eaglequest Golf Course at Coyote Creek. As well, he is a member of the organizing committee for the Scotiabank Half Marathon, which raised $35,000 last year. Through Parton’s volunteering, he has continued to meet individuals in the community who are affected by Alzheimer’s, including the honouree from last year’s walk, and fellow Surrey resident, Jim Mann who documented his
struggles with the disease through becomes a much bigger place. As social media last year. soon as you understand the world “You get to hear their stories, see is much bigger than you are, it what’s going on and they have so becomes a much more enjoyable much to share. That life. for me is the worst “The more you give ❝Many people, part of it. There is so back, the more you sort unless they have much knowledge that of take from it.” experienced it in can be shared, but with One of Parton’s goals their family, don’t focuses on having more Alzheimer’s you get know very much youth involved in the that taken away. “You build your about Alzheimer’s.❞ society and with the whole life to the point Walk for Memories. Kevin Parton where you can relax From experience, ParWalk for Memories ton has encountered a and actually enjoy yourself, and to get lot of ignorance surto that point and have that stolen rounding the disease. from you seems like karmic injus“I’ve had people come up to me tice,” Parton said. and ask about the ‘old-timers dis“But it’s a great experience to ease’ because that’s actually what work with these people. The world they think the name is. Those are
the times you just say, ‘OK, let’s go sit down and talk,” Parton laughed. “But many people, unless they have experienced it in their family, don’t know very much about Alzheimer’s.” In order to encourage education, Parton has turned to social media, including a Facebook page, to share information. “It’s important for me to do this because I don’t have a ton of money to donate, but I do have time. That’s what I can give right now with the eventual goal of being able to help out philanthropically.” For those interested in volunteering in the walk, visit www.alzheimerbc.org/Get-Involved/Walk-forMemories.aspxw
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