Changing the Future

For David Engdahl, CPA, CA and Rashelle Dolan, CPA, CA, donating to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan means more than supporting much-needed research for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. It’s an investment in hope.  

The two colleagues contributed to the Society through their workplace, MNP. The MNP Partner Giving Program is funded by MNP partners from across Saskatchewan to help support meaningful causes in the communities where they live and work.

While MNP supports a wide range of community initiatives with their Partner Giving program, this one hit a little closer to home for David and Rashelle.  

Both Rashelle and David have had their lives changed by dementia. They are sharing their personal stories below. 

David Engdahl – “Live with Urgency”

My connection to Alzheimer’s disease is through my wife. Two years ago, she lost her mom to the disease. She wasn’t very old, only in her early 60s. She had been diagnosed 10 years earlier. 

Those 10 years robbed my family of so much. But, it also provided clarity and generated a sense of urgency. We think of the future and whether dementia is something we have to expect for our family, and we want research. 

In addition to the donations we made, my wife has gone back to university to pursue the meaningful goal of contributing to dementia research. She hopes that at some point she can find a small way to help find better outcomes for families impacted by dementia.

Rashelle Dolan – “Shifting Priorities”

My mother’s diagnosis has changed how I show up in the world.  

My mother, Mary, was diagnosed when she was close to 60 years old — about 10 years ago now. My father was her primary caregiver for nearly a decade, until she moved into a care home a few years ago.  

While the last 10 years have been tough, it’s urged me to reconsider my priorities. I'm having fewer late nights at the office and more fulfilling evenings with my family. 

I worry about not having a connection with my kids when they’re teenagers. We’re a long way from that, but I worry about it because those are the years I wasted. By the time I was enough of an adult to appreciate my mom, her dementia had already started.

I’d like people to understand that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia aren’t just for the elderly. While an individual may be at a higher risk of developing these disorders as they age, it’s not unusual for highly functional, younger individuals to start experiencing symptoms of dementia. 

Research provides some hope to me, to the next generation, and the generation after that. Maybe my life won’t be different, but maybe my children’s lives will be. 

Inspiring Hope at MNP

For David, Rashelle, and the rest of the team members at MNP, unlocking dementia research is a source of optimism. It’s about creating futures.

It’s vital to find better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat dementia, as well as improve the quality of life for those affected by it.  

 “We’re only two of the stories. We’ve had a lot of people reach out to say they have gone through this, or they know someone who has.” 

- Rashelle Dolan