Run raises $300,000 for Alzheimer Society of Calgary

Suited up in hats, mitts and warm jackets, more than 1,000 runners, walkers and supporters raised some $300,000 on Sundayin the Investors Group Alzheimer Walk and Run.

For 26 years the five and 10kilometre run and walk has raised funds for the Alzheimer Society of Calgary, with many participants honouring a parent or grandparent affected by the disease.

It's a special run for Megan Sinclair, one of about 1,400 who took part Sunday.

"I'm out here running for my grandma who had Alzheimer's, and my boyfriend's grandma who had it," she said.

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Sinclair didn't hide her emotion when talking about what it was like to watch her grandmother's health decline.

"It was tough, seeing her forgetting us and everything," she said, tearing up.

Barb Ferguson is the executive director of the Alzheimer Society in Calgary. She says the younger generation is more aware than ever of the disease.

"Many of them have been close to their grandparents so they're doing it in tribute to them," she said.

"Or there's all these intergenerational programs that exist now that they're getting to know our seniors and really value that knowledge and that relationship they've been able to form with seniors."

There are about 40,000 Albertans living with some type of dementia.