The Alzheimer’s Society of British Columbia, Canada relies heavily on fundraising for its research and day-to-day operations. Not only do the funds aid in research advancement, they also help fund the training of the next generation of Alzheimer’s scientists through grants and scholarships. Funds also go to maintaining the day-to-day operations. which include getting help to the public. The Alzheimer’s Society of B.C. provides resources and information to people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia as well as to caregivers and family members. They hold support groups and offer education so that people do not have to go through their hard time alone. and also provide a variety of classes that fit the needs of patients and their family members in all stages of the illness. Fundraising and donations make all of these programs possible.
One of the most rewarding fundraisers the Alzheimer’s Society of B.C. does is Ascent for Alzheimer’s each September and biOasis is one of the corporate sponsors of this fundraiser. This is a seven day climb up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa that they have been doing annually since 1988. Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the largest stratovolcanoes in the world, at 19,340 feet.
This year’s fundraiser brought in over $250,000. Participants climb Kilimanjaro for family or friends with Alzheimer’s, while others do it out of pure charity to help complete strangers. Each climber pays their own expenses as well as raising at least $15,000 each for the Alzheimer’s Society of B.C—with some well surpassing that amount. Not only does this experience raise money to help those afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, but it provides personal growth and an once-in-a-lifetime experience for the climber.
After this year’s climb, team member Rowena Anderson reflected on the experience, explaining how incredible it was pushing past the emotional, physical, and mental challenges of the climb. The physical demands this ascent puts on the body meant she had the mental challenge of pushing forward despite her body saying that she could not go any further. Emotionally, life-long bonds were built with team members. A sort of brotherly love or camaraderie was built that only a life-changing experience such as this can form. Also, the love and admiration that the team felt for the guides virtually defies description. The guides carried Rowena’s backpack most of the way for her and made sure she had water as necessary—just amazing.
When the urge to turn back or quit welled up inside the climbers, it was the thought of the people benefiting from the climb would come to mind. Even though Rowena doesn’t have any family with Alzheimer’s, she had motivation to keep going. She kept remembering a call from a board member with Alzheimer’s before the climb thanking her for being on the team. Nothing is more rewarding and encouraging than knowing what you are doing is helping others with a debilitating illness such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Throughout this whole experience, no matter how physically taxing, emotionally draining, or mentally challenging pushing forward became, the team members kept going with those afflicted with Alzheimer’s present in their mind and spirit. A lot of the climbers have family members afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, which made the climb so rewarding for them. Sometimes family members can feel so helpless when watching someone suffer with Alzheimer’s, so this journey helped many family members of those with Alzheimer’s feel like they were finally doing something that makes a difference. And what a difference this year’s climb made—directly through fundraising and indirectly by personal growth. If anyone is looking for a personal challenge while helping others the Ascent for Alzheimer’s is a lifetime lifelong reward and the new teams are already training for the 2010 climb.
