Valorie Mann and her husband Derril created a beautiful life for their family.

Raising a close-knit family of five kids, it has grown to now encompass 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

But as Mann now faces the most difficult challenge of her life at age 90, confronting symptoms commensurate with Alzheimersa国际传媒檚 disease, her family has rallied around her.

Mann has been selected as the Kelowna honourees for the 2024 IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzeheimersa国际传媒檚 fundraiser taking place Sunday, May 26, 1 p.m., at City Park.

And as in life, Mannsa国际传媒檚 family, more than 30 strong, will be on hand to support her, wearing bright red t-shirts with a heart logo and the phrase sa国际传媒楳ann Power.sa国际传媒�

Daughter Laurie Carr said she was taken aback a little by the walk honour extended to her mom, but acknowledged the family presence in her momsa国际传媒檚 life through support programs offered by the Kelowna branch of the Alzheimer Society of B.C. caught their attention.

sa国际传媒淢om was in the Minds in Motion program and we had five name tags for ourselves as we took turns going with her to those classes each time which really helped her,sa国际传媒� Carr said.

It also matched up Mannsa国际传媒檚 family with others on the dementia journey with their loved ones, important when that journey often leaves caregivers with more questions than answers.

Carr describes her mom as an honest, loving, dedicated wife, mother and grandmother.

sa国际传媒淪he has always been very accepting of everyone for who they are and supportive of the choices they made in life,sa国际传媒� she said.

Mann grew up in Vernon and after high school she applied her interest in mechanics to a career in the Canadian Armed Force, becoming an instrument technician.

Her career was short, however, as she fell in love with fellow instrument tech and eventual husband Derril.

Mann became a dedicated stay-at-home mom, and after the kids had grown up and left home, became a caregiver for her husband, who was afflicted with heart disease.

When she began showing symptoms of Alzheimersa国际传媒檚, Derril stepped up to be her caregiver, to the extent even their kids didnsa国际传媒檛 realize how much he was compensating for her symptoms, wanting her to remain living with him.

Derril was learning to care for the both of them for the first time, a responsibility he took on with positivity, enthusiasm and love.

He accessed dementia education offered by the Alzheimer Society of B.C., and despite all the challenges of this period, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, the couple continued to manage well on their own.

Derril was determined to be a good primary care provider asking for little help from his kids until he died in the spring of 2023.

Within a short time-frame of losing her husband, Mann sold her house and was moved into a long-term care home, with the ongoing support of her children sa国际传媒� daughters Laurie and Shelley Hyde, and sons Brian and Mike Mann.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e super proud of her resilience and how shesa国际传媒檚 coping with her world imploding this last year,sa国际传媒� Carr said.

sa国际传媒淪he went from living with our father independently, to losing him, her home and everything in it. Now shesa国际传媒檚 realizing shesa国际传媒檚 losing her memory and she still shows up positive and lovely, and thankful for the people who help her.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 just so proud of her strength and resilience.sa国际传媒�

Guy Bird, chair of the Walk for Alzheimersa国际传媒檚 in Kelowna for several years, knows well what the Mann family is experiencing, having made an Alzheimersa国际传媒檚 journey of his own with his wife.

Bird calls it sa国际传媒渁 terrible journey that only goes one way.sa国际传媒�

But his efforts have led the Kelowna walk to become one of eight sa国际传媒榝lagshipsa国际传媒� walks held across B.C., a reflection of the fundraising support Bird and a host of volunteers have built up.

The event raised $4 million across the province last year, essential funding that supports programs for both those diagnosed with Alzheimersa国际传媒檚 and their caregivers.

Bird advocates for caregivers to take advantage of support programs offered through the society to help alleviate the stress of their situation.

sa国际传媒淚 always like to say donsa国际传媒檛 be afraid to reach out for help. It is not a sign of being weak, it makes you smarter,sa国际传媒� he said.

And the need for that support continues to grow, given that 85,000 people in B.C. live with dementia and the people who care for them.

sa国际传媒淲hen I got involved with the walk back in 2019, that number was 65,000 people back then,sa国际传媒� he said.

For this yearsa国际传媒檚 Alzheimer Walk, a number of draw prizes have been offered by sponsors for participants sa国际传媒� five $100 gift cards from T-Bones; a Big White Ski Resort seniorsa国际传媒檚 ski pass; and a $500 vacuum cleaner.

The local Lions Clubs will also host a BBQ by donation.

Entertainment will also be provided by Kelowna jazz vocalist Anna Jacyszyn.

For more information on how to register as a participant, either as an individual or part of a team, or to make a donation, check out walkforalzheimers.ca for more information.

For Mannsa国际传媒檚 family, the walk will be turned into a belated birthday celebration for her as she just recently turned 90.

sa国际传媒淲e will make a thing out of it with at least 30 members of our family and a couple of friends,sa国际传媒� said Carr.

That kind of support from a large extended family also reiterates another adage Bird often uses to describe someone with Alzheimersa国际传媒檚 disease: sa国际传媒淭hey may not remember who you are but they will remember how you made them feel.sa国际传媒�

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