MEMBER for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams has bared her soles to spread the word about the Memory Walk and Jog, the major fund-raising and awareness-raising event held annually by Alzheimer’s Australia.
Mrs Williams was one of many NSW State MPs from across the political spectrum who attended a special morning tea at Parliament House and posted a photo of their shoes, with a memory attached, on social media and hashtag #memorywalk.
Alzheimer’s Australia NSW CEO John Watkins said it was great to see all sides of politics getting behind such a great cause.
“We’ve seen some pretty interesting photos of some Members of Parliament’s favourite shoes and we’re so pleased people are getting behind this campaign so enthusiastically,” Mr Watkins said.
Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams MP said she didn’t hesitate when she was asked to help organise the event.
“I am a passionate supporter of Alzheimer’s Australia and the fight against dementia,” she said.
“Anything to help bring awareness of the disease to the attention of my local community is very worthwhile, and I am looking forward to the Memory Walk and Jog in Port Macquarie on Sunday 31 August at Westport park.”
Mrs Williams said there were an estimated 1700 people with dementia in the Port Macquarie State Electorate, which had the second highest dementia prevalence rate of the NSW state electorates. That number was expected to more than triple to 5400 by 2050.
Registration is now open for all Memory Walk and Jog events – visit www.memorywalk.com.au
Alzheimer’s Australia NSW is the charity for people with dementia and their families and carers. As the peak body, it provides advocacy, support services, education and information. More than 332,000 people have dementia in Australia. This number is projected to reach more than half a million by 2030.
