To celebrate Dementia Awareness Week 2012, the Tweed Memory Walk was held on Sunday, September 23.
The walk started at Chris Cunningham Park and followed the walking path around Jack Evans Harbour, up and over Point Danger. More than 40 people participated in one of the two guided walks, learning interesting facts about the area and challenging their brains with quick quiz questions.
Others came along to gather information about dementia and local services whilst the aim of the day was to promote the importance of Brain Health – Making the Connections. This focus comes on the back of increasing evidence that looking after your brain, body and heart can help reduce your risk of developing dementia.
It’s important to understand that while there is, as yet, no cure for dementia there are things we can all do now – like keeping your brain active, being fit and healthy and looking after your heart – which may help to reduce our risk of developing dementia, or slow cognitive decline in those already diagnosed with dementia.
“There is evidence to suggest that, for example, if we reduced the physical inactivity rate in Australia by 5 per cent every five years, dementia prevalence would be cut by 11 per cent by 2051,” Hon. John Watkins, CEO, Alzheimer’s Australia said.
“That’s around 100,000 fewer Australians living with dementia as a consequence of addressing just one risk factor.”
The event was supported by a range of health and community care services as well as Tweed Council. South Tweed Rotary Club ran the BBQ, offering sausage sandwiches and drinks, and the Coolangatta Ukulele players entered the crowd with catchy sing along tunes.
This is only the second year the Memory Walk has been run in the Tweed however going on the enthusiasm of all those who attended, it is hoped that it will become a regular annual event and will continue to grow in popularity.
