Dealing with dementia is a ‘tough journey’ for families
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MARSHALL -- Erica Anderson says the journey in dealing with dementia "is tough."
"My brother-in-law's father has dementia and was recently just put on hospice," said the Avera long-term care worker.
The journey is tough, especially when families don't know what it is or how to deal with it, so it's very important to spread awareness."
Anderson joined others in participating in the The 2022 Walk For Memories/ 5k run event held at the Marshall YMCA Thursday.
"I originally was just wanting to run a 5k and I noticed this one was in Marshall and I work in long-term care at Avera, so I have seen how dementia effects families," Anderson said.
Participants walked along many different tables set up by various organizations and agencies.
Jamie Lanners of MADAN (Marshall Area Dementia Awareness Network) has been organizing the event since 2018.
Honorees Paula and Greg Botsford and Lanners spoke about how the event came about plus the impact of Dementia has had in her life.
"So in my life, my great grandmother had dementia," Lanners said. "We didn't get a chance to visit her. However, when my grandma was diagnosed, my kids and I were still able to have a relationship with her based off the education we received about the illness."
Dr. Kandy Noel Stevens, Assistant professor of Education/college, spoke about her son Reed tragic death, the connection to MADAN and her own personal experience with Dementia.
"We wanted to do something in honor of our son Reed's death," Stevens said." We picked out the Cheetah, which is Reed's favorite animal and stuffed them with donations of money to give out to families who too have lost a child and give back to MADAN as well. I also have two grandfathers that suffered from dementia, so when MADAN asked us to partner up, it was easy to do so because of how the disease has impacted our family."
More than 30 participants registered for the 5k run. Bart Johnson, a Marshall native, finished first in just a little over 19 minutes. Johnson ran while pushing his kids in a stroller and then spoke afterwards about race plus what dementia means for him.
"It was difficult running with kids in a stroller, adding 100 pounds not including the wind," Johnson said." I know the Botsfords pretty well and my grandmother has been diagnosed with dementia, so it hits home."