The Alzheimer Society of B.C. is looking for a volunteer committee chair for the 2025 IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's in Abbosford and Chilliwack.
The annual event, presented by Go Auto, takes place May 25 and is Canada's largest fundraiser for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
More than 300 volunteers participate across 20 communities, led by walk committee chairs.
Walk chairs work alongside staff and utilize their connections to engage their community – including members of the public and local businesses – to support the event through participation, fundraising and sponsorship.
Marisa Gagne is one of those volunteers. After graduating from university with a degree in speech language pathology, she was approached by friend and colleague Cathy Lin to join the Burnaby walk committee.
“We ended up knowing a lot of people on the committee,” Gagne said. “Organizing the annual walk really feels like we are part of a community.”
With a personal connection to dementia through her grandfather, Gagne was all too familiar with the disease. Prior to joining the committee, she didn’t know much about the Alzheimer Society of B.C.
“One of the things I like most about my role is getting the chance to introduce people to the organization,” she said. “People want to give. They want to help people affected by dementia.”
When the committee’s chair stepped down in early 2024, Gagne and Lin decided to work together as co-chairs to organize this year's walk.
Walk chairs are ambassadors for the Alzheimer Society of B.C. They build relationships with volunteers, the public and local businesses, who often share stories about family members and friends who are living with dementia.
Each of the events across B.C. is dedicated to an honouree – an individual or group affected by dementia, or someone who has contributed to the lives of people living with the disease.
A total of seven communities across the province are in need of chairs.
“Don’t be scared,” Gagne said. “I felt supported by volunteers, society staff and the community to put on an important event for people affected by dementia. People are generous and grateful for the opportunity to help. I carry the positivity I felt as a walk chair with me in my day-to-day life, year-round.”
Those interested are asked to contact Nick Dunn at 604-742-4908 or ndunn@alzheimerbc.org.
