Ilam School’s Dash for Dementia

For their Term 2 event, the Ilam School House Captains are combining sport with citizenship and are organising ‘Run a Kilometre for Charity’ on Thursday 2nd June. They have chosen Alzheimers Canterbury as one of two charities to support those living with dementia in the community.

Gretchen Cocks, Y5/6 Senior Team Leader at Ilam School explains why the kids have chosen Alzheimers Canterbury: “When Alzheimers Canterbury came up not many of the children understood what this was. One of the House Captains mentioned that her grandma had it. We discussed it a lot and the effects of it. We talked about what it would feel like to visit someone you loved like your own Mum or Dad or nana or grandad and have them not remember who you are. This really tugged at the heart strings so it was a unanimous vote to support Alzheimers Canterbury.”

Darral Campbell, Manager of Alzheimers Canterbury is delighted with their choice: “It is so great to see kids wanting to support the older generation and especially the dementia-community. We break barriers and challenge stigma by raising awareness about what it’s like to live with dementia. Educating our youngest generation is the best place to start. Children have an instinctive curiosity without the sometimes tainted and perhaps negative expectations adults may have. Young people have no hang ups about the disease, stigma is not in their vocabulary. Once they understand what it is and how it may affect a family member or friend, most just accept and embrace the symptoms and changes, without fear or judgement. Effectively these kids are shaping an entire dementia-friendly generation for whom the disease will bear less fear.”

Every child in the school will participate in a running and obstacle course with the rest of their house members on Thursday 2 June (Week 5) beginning at 11am. The postponement day for this will be Thursday 9 June (Week 6). The kids can raise funds by engaging friends, family, perhaps even neighbors and community group members to support their efforts.

“A big thank you goes out to these amazing kids who chose to support the dementia-community. We hope it will be a fabulous and fun day and wish everyone the best of luck with their preparation and their Kilometre Run on the day. Let’s hope this will get the conversation about dementia from the school, at their homes and beyond. With the right support at the right time, people can live well with dementia. It’s so important to know life does not end when dementia begins,” says Darral.

If you would like to support Ilam School’s ‘Run a Kilometre for Charity, please contact Gretchen Cocks from Ilam School atgretchen.cocks@ilam.school.nz or call 348 7492.

For more information on free dementia services in the community, please call Alzheimers Canterbury on 0800 004 001 or emailadmin@alzcanty.co.nz.

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