“I’ll keep doing this as long as I can.”
These are the famous words of Kyabram local Mick Simpson, who has dementia but continues to put one foot in front of the other to Walk for Dementia.
At the fourth annual dementia awareness walk on Sunday, February 12, Mr Simpson brought together participants and leaders for a lap around Shepparton’s Victoria Park Lake.
Spirits were high, but no one was more overjoyed than Mr Simpson.
“I started the Walk for Dementia in 2019 and I’m so proud to see it continue to grow every year,” he said.
When asked what the headcount was for the event, Mr Simpson was not sure but could account for nearly 100 sausages worth of people, thanks to the Kyabram Lions Club.
Among the line-up for the walk were public figures and politicians Peter Walsh, Wendy Lovell, Kim O’Keeffe and Sam Birrell.
Mr Simpson asked for the leaders’ attendance to raise awareness through government, major businesses and organisations, and call on their help to further the campaign.
“Childhood dementia is a serious issue worldwide ... and it’s the same old story with mature dementia, there’s only three words – we don’t know,” he said.
“We don’t know how to fix it, but we need all the help we can get to support those with it.”
The Kyabram Community and Learning Centre has lent a valuable hand in what Mr Simpson described as “being the backbone of the awareness”.
Kyabram Community and Learning Centre assist the Kyabram and District Dementia Group, a support group for those with dementia, which meets on the last Thursday of every month.
Kyabram Community and Learning Centre chief executive Jennifer Savage said there was also a dementia alliance scheduled to begin on Thursday, March 9.
“We’re looking forward to having as many people as possible come and support that and see what changes we can make to support people with dementia in the community,” she said.
Funds raised from the Walk for Dementia campaign are split between the Kyabram and District Dementia Group and dementia research.
To contact the Kyabram Community and Learning Centre Inc for information, including details of Mr Simpson’s next Walk for Dementia in Melbourne in June, phone 5852 0000.