Durban - Run to End Alzheimer’s, a relay from Johannesburg to Durban which will start on Saturday, will raise funds for Alzheimer’s South Africa to train carers of those with the disease, either in private homes or residential care facilities. The cost to train a carer is R729.60 for a two-day course.
They hope to exceed R100 000 and R93 000 has already been raised.
The relay will see 20 runners and five support team members leave Glen Shopping Centre, Johannesburg, and make their way to Durban.
Runners will be divided into 10 groups, with each group running about 10km before the next group takes over.
The run will end at uShaka Marine World on May 1 between 3pm and 4pm.
Donations can be made by visiting the GivenGain website: https://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/gigac.cgi
See also the Run to End Alzheimer’s Facebook page for donation details.
Fact File
Alzheimer’s Disease, a type of dementia, is on the increase and there are more than 36 million people with dementia worldwide.
The number is expected to rise to more than 115 million by 2050.
In South Africa, it is estimated that about 730 000 people have dementia
10 warning signs
* A memory problem, not caused by alcohol abuse or head injury, that worsens over time.
* Language problems: difficulty naming objects, finding the right word to use in a sentence.
* Zips and buttons are difficult to fasten. People with Alzheimer’s find it hard to dress themselves.
* Hygiene: those with Alzheimer’s may not care about how they look and may not want to bath.
* Extreme mood swings: a change in mood for no reason – like being calm then suddenly scared or angry and aggressive, within minutes.
* Impaired judgement: strange behaviour – like wearing underclothes over top clothes or taking clothes off in public.
* Many people with Alzheimer’s get lost in familiar places, sometimes in their own neighbourhood.
* Recognition of their own family and friends becomes difficult.
* Recalls memories of childhood at times, but cannot remember anything that happened the same day.
* Suspicious of other people and may accuse them of stealing or hiding things.
Visit www.alzheimers.org.za