Walk 2022 Profile: The McCabes
Lorri McCabe remembers her house as a place where guests were always invited to stay for dinner. Somehow a delicious, generous meal would be whipped up in no time by her mother, Gail. “She was never stressed about hosting,” Lorri remembers. “That’s the thing I miss the most. She has no desire to go in the kitchen… she doesn’t have those skills anymore.”
As a stay-at-home mom, family was extremely important for Gail. And when tests came back that she had dementia, her family gathered around to support her. They made contact with the Alzheimer Society, met with counsellors, took courses to learn more about the disease and what they should expect, and have been strong supporters ever since.
This is their fifth year walking for Alzheimer’s. Each year new families join their Walk team as they meet new people through the Alzheimer Society who are also affected by dementia. Everyone on the team benefits as it grows. Having a big team creates a strong sense that they aren’t going through this alone.
Since the McCabes organize their own Walk from their house, they are able to continue the family tradition of hosting guests. With the pandemic, and everything being so “doom and gloom”, they have started having a party during the Walk. That’s an important reason they participate every year: it provides them with friendship.
“We have a great support system and I think a lot about the people who don’t have that. And if we can help the [Alzheimer Society] programs to continue, that’s great. For those people need that support more than we do,” says Lorri. “For me, though, it’s always been about finding a cure.”
Will you join the McCabes in walking 10,740 steps to honour each person in our region living with dementia?