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 Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 disease, her family has rallied around her.

Mann has been selected as the Kelowna honourees for the 2024 IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzeheimer害羞草研究所檚 fundraiser taking place Sunday, May 26, 1 p.m., at City Park.

And as in life, Mann害羞草研究所檚 family, more than 30 strong, will be on hand to support her, wearing bright red t-shirts with a heart logo and the phrase 害羞草研究所楳ann Power.害羞草研究所�

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 mom害羞草研究所檚 life through support programs offered by the Kelowna branch of the Alzheimer Society of B.C. caught their attention.

害羞草研究所淢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,害羞草研究所� Carr said.

It also matched up Mann害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淪he has always been very accepting of everyone for who they are and supportive of the choices they made in life,害羞草研究所� 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 Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚, Derril stepped up to be her caregiver, to the extent even their kids didn害羞草研究所檛 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 害羞草研究所� daughters Laurie and Shelley Hyde, and sons Brian and Mike Mann.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e super proud of her resilience and how she害羞草研究所檚 coping with her world imploding this last year,害羞草研究所� Carr said.

害羞草研究所淪he went from living with our father independently, to losing him, her home and everything in it. Now she害羞草研究所檚 realizing she害羞草研究所檚 losing her memory and she still shows up positive and lovely, and thankful for the people who help her.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just so proud of her strength and resilience.害羞草研究所�

Guy Bird, chair of the Walk for Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 in Kelowna for several years, knows well what the Mann family is experiencing, having made an Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 journey of his own with his wife.

Bird calls it 害羞草研究所渁 terrible journey that only goes one way.害羞草研究所�

But his efforts have led the Kelowna walk to become one of eight 害羞草研究所榝lagship害羞草研究所� 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 Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚 always like to say don害羞草研究所檛 be afraid to reach out for help. It is not a sign of being weak, it makes you smarter,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淲hen I got involved with the walk back in 2019, that number was 65,000 people back then,害羞草研究所� he said.

For this year害羞草研究所檚 Alzheimer Walk, a number of draw prizes have been offered by sponsors for participants 害羞草研究所� five $100 gift cards from T-Bones; a Big White Ski Resort senior害羞草研究所檚 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 Mann害羞草研究所檚 family, the walk will be turned into a belated birthday celebration for her as she just recently turned 90.

害羞草研究所淲e will make a thing out of it with at least 30 members of our family and a couple of friends,害羞草研究所� said Carr.

That kind of support from a large extended family also reiterates another adage Bird often uses to describe someone with Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 disease: 害羞草研究所淭hey may not remember who you are but they will remember how you made them feel.害羞草研究所�

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