As many of you know, my dad, Chris, has been battling dementia for many years now. At 62, he is living in a full-time care home and requires assistance for meals, bathing, and all other daily activities. He is wheelchair-bound, and no longer able to articulate his thoughts or feelings through speech. Amazingly, however, he still smiles and laughs, and he responds well to touch and music (especially if it's Johnny Cash, the Beach Boys, Louis Armstrong or Van Morrison!). 

The struggle with my dad's dementia has been a very private battle so far. As you can imagine, it is often a hard topic to discuss, and the pain that comes with watching someone you love slowly lose their cognitive functioning is immense. The past 5 years have been a rollercoaster to say the least. 

I will be riding for my dad in the upcoming 2018 Whistler GranFondo, a challenging 122km bike race from Vancouver to Whistler. In doing so I hope to raise awareness for early-onset demenita, and give my best fundraising effort to support the Alzheimer's Society of BC (which has been a great resource for my family). Please support me in reaching my fundraising goal - anything is appreciated.

This one's for you Dad.

A note about your donation:

By making a donation on this page, you are helping to transform the lives of individuals and families living with all types of dementias. By supporting the work of the Alzheimer Society of B.C., you are ensuring there is a province-wide organization dedicated to providing services and programs to help families faced with dementia have the confidence and skills to maintain quality of life, to supporting the search for the cure.