The community is behind Malcolm Cameron’s courageous battle every step of the way and they will prove it on Saturday along the Boundary Bay dyke.
The inaugural Malcolm’s Run For Alzheimer will take place at 9:30 a.m. with the 10-km loop going from Beach Grove Elementary to 72nd Street and back. It is a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Society of B.C. and to raise awareness for the disease that has dramatically changed his life. The run also coincides with World’s Alzheimer’s Day which is Sept. 21.
The longtime Ladner resident was a pastor and counsellor in his hometown for years, including the South Delta Baptist Church, Delta Family Services and Delta Hospice, until being diagnosed with Young Onset Alzheimer’s. It’s an uncommon form of dementia that affects people 65 and under that can difficult to detect.
Cameron was in his mid-50s when he began noticing subtle changes that initially were believed to be stress related.
“I think we have people in our lives who have been effected by Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia. Typically it’s your grandparents or whatever, not your husband who was in his 50s when it started. When you still are earning a living, living life and have young adult (children). It is a unique time in life to be facing this,” said Cameron’s wife Sandy.
“The diagnosis process was long because it came at a time of life he was dealing with grief with the loss of his brother to cancer, stresses at work too. All of that mixed in made it easy to explain away things. Even our (general practitioner) believed it was just complicating factors. It was a long road and we really had to push to get a diagnosis because he needed support. It was still there and getting worse.”
Cameron remains physically active and one of his passions is running. That’s why his friends thought the Saturday fundraiser was a perfect event.
“I wanted to support people who are living with this diagnosis,” he said. “When it started, I knew something was going on but I just didn’t know what were these changes, so I have kind of ridden with it for a long time. I would say I am comfortable with it now and I just want to push ahead. I have always run and still love it.”
Unfortunately, Cameron can no longer be by himself at home. Sandy’s job with Trinity Western University requires her to spend some time at the Richmond and Langley campuses during their work week. They were getting some help from their daughter but she has now left home to attend UBC Okanagan.
The family’s best option was Malcolm joining Paul’s Club, a Vancouver-based social and recreational program for men and women living with Young Onset Alzheimer. It opened nine years ago and is the first of its kind in Metro Vancouver.
Although it receives some government funding, the cost to attend can be a financial challenge. This is where friends and the community have stepped up in a big way, raising nearly $40,000 so far through a Go Fund Me page here.
Cameron has been attending two times a week since August.
“What an amazing thing they are doing. We thought he better start in August and he has loved it since day one,” added Sandy. “It’s been such a gift for us and we are so thankful to everyone.”
To participate or donate in Cameron’s run on Saturday go to the dedicated page at this link on the Alzheimer’s Society of B.C. website.
