That’s the message from Alzheimers Otago, which is adapting its approach to September’s Alzheimers Awareness Month amid the ongoing uncertainty around Covid-19.
Alzheimers Otago manager Liz Harburg is working with a team of University of Otago marketing interns to encourage local people to join the national online Move for Dementia campaign.
"Usually, the Memory Walk is the cornerstone of awareness month, but Covid-19 has made it too difficult to hold the event this year," Mrs Harburg said.
"So Alzheimer’s New Zealand has come up with the Move for Dementia awareness and fundraising platform instead."
Teams of all ages can choose their own activity challenge — from running and walking to chair yoga — and set up an online fundraising page on the alzheimersnz.grassrootz.com/move-for-dementia platform.
The interns — Ciara Gyde, Lily Bryden and Cassie Daley — have formed their own team, The Purple Party. Their goal is to run 100km in September.
Mrs Harburg said the campaign would provide vital funds in a year when regular events had to be cancelled.
