‘A disease that impacts the individual, their families and carers’: Western Sydney Local Health District teams participate in Memory Walk for Dementia

Members from the Rapid Access to Care and Evaluation (RACE) team at Westmead Hospital have participated in the Memory Walk for Dementia.

The eight-kilometre walk raises awareness for dementia, as well as funds for research and support for those currently living with and impacted by dementia.

“A number of us have personal experience of having a loved one with dementia, but also in our work each day we support patients and their families living in the community with dementia,” RACE Senior Social Worker Sarah Carlton said.

“We see daily the impact that this disease has not only on the individual, but their families and carers too.”

The team, racing under the name ‘Grey Matters’, raised over $2,500 in their fundraising effort and had five members participate in the event during their walk around Nepean River.

The squad included social workers, occupational therapist and physiotherapists working in RACE, a community based multidisciplinary team based at Westmead Hospital and part of the geriatric medicine operations in the district.

It is estimated that there are 487 500 Australians living with dementia and almost 1.6 million Australians involved in their care. Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia and there is no cure

“The money we raised will go to support Dementia Australia in the work of providing dementia services, advocacy, education and research,” Sarah said.

“We are proud of our fundraising efforts knowing that it will be used to support dementia related services and research.

“While fundraising we were able to raise awareness through discussions with colleagues, family and friends, as well as on the day of the walk in our bright yellow t-shirts.

“It was fun to be out doing something together as a team for a good cause, we had some great chats and enjoyed morning tea together after.”