Take your brain for a walk
Alzheimer’s Australia and the City of Sydney has joined forces to promote the healthy benefits of walking – and raise awareness of Australia’s third leading cause of death.
Alzheimer's Australia and City of Sydney take the right step to raise dementia awareness.
Alzheimer’s Australia NSW is offering a 10% discount on registration to all city residents and workers for its annual Sydney Memory Walk & Jog on Sunday, 14 September 2014.
Held during Dementia Awareness Month, the event raises much needed funds to provide support, education and resources for people living with dementia in NSW and their carers.
There are an estimated 332,000 Australians with dementia. In Sydney alone there are an estimated 1,100 people with the debilitating condition, and that figure is expected to rise by 300% by 2050.
Deputy Lord Mayor, Robyn Kemmis, says the City of Sydney is investing significantly in infrastructure to make walking more accessible and interesting for residents, commuters and tourists of all abilities.
“Dementia is a devastating disease and its impact is felt right throughout our community. One person develops the condition in Australia every six minutes. That’s one of the health reasons why we are investing in creating an environment where people are encouraged to be active and walk more,” Deputy Lord Mayor Kemmis says.
The City of Sydney is investing $50 million in improving the useability and safety of the most popular walking routes in central Sydney over the next decade.
It is implementing an extensive system to link the entire local government area and installing modern new street furniture on every street.
Next month, the City of Sydney will release its first ever policy on walking and, in October, Sydney will welcome the world’s leading experts on walking when the City of Sydney and the NSW government host the international Walk 21 conference.
“When you create a better environment for walking, you help people’s health, reduce congestion on our roads and boost the local economy from increased foot traffic outside local retailers,” Deputy Lord Mayor Kemmis says.
The Hon. John Watkins, Alzheimer’s Australia NSW chief executive, says walking has many great benefits, and applauds the City of Sydney for working to encourage people to walk more often.
“Not only can regular walking improve memory and thinking functions, it can also help protect against cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia,” Mr Watkins says.
Sydney Memory Walk & Jog is on Sunday, 14 September around the Bay Run at Leichhardt. Participants can choose to take part in a two kilometre walk, a 7.5 kilometre walk or a 7.5 kilometre run.
Alzheimer’s Australia NSW is aiming to raise $750,000 from events across the state. Bupa is the official aged care partner of the 2014 Memory Walk & Jog.
Discount registration is now open to City of Sydney residents and workers. Register and follow the prompts to enter promo code ‘CityofSyd2014’ for the 10% discount.
