Several walks were held in Prince George today (Sunday) to raise money for various causes.
One of the first of the day was the PG Hospice Colour Walk.
“One of my favourite parts about this has been the stories that people tell,” said Hospice Executive Director Donna Flood.
“People are out there doing their walking, sharing their stories, participating and going to our parks, and getting out and getting active.”
This year, the goal was to raise $50,000 to build an outdoor area behind the Hospice House for residents.
“We just want to make it so people can be out with their families in a really beautiful outdoor setting,” Flood said.
“Maybe barbeque something up, sit and have a conversation, and just have a nice peaceful space.”
For the 25th year, the MS Walk was held in Prince George.
“It’s a chance for all of us to gather in the community that have MS or have family members with MS to show that we are not alone,” said Co-Chair of the MS Walk Committee Ashley Provencher.
“The community is just fantastic, they come out every year, we have new people that come out every year, we have new volunteers that come out every year.”
Provencher was diagnosed with MS 21 years ago.
“When I was diagnosed, there was only four medications, and that was it,” she explained.
“It was four different types of injections where you had to give yourself an injection either daily, every second day, every third day or weekly.”
She also noted the drugs for MS are very expensive.
This year, the goal was to raise $40,000 for MS research and treatment.
Over at the YMCA, Prince George residents put their shoes to the pavement the IG Wealth Management Alzheimer’s Walk.
“There’s 400 other walks happening across Canada for this cause on the same day today,” said Co-Chair of the Northern BC Walk for Alzheimer’s Mackenzie Kerr.
“We have had so much support from people reaching out even if they weren’t able to attend the walk today, and showing how important the programs for Alzheimer’s and Dementia are in Northern BC.”
Kerr noted that around 100 people attended, and the $8,000 raised will go towards treatment and research.
