An Evening to Remember supports Alzheimer Society

Grand Prize Winner June Waldron with her husband Victor Waldron and daughter Jennie Lothian, at Huff Estates Inn where they started and ended their Evening to Remember adventure.

It was an ‘Evening to Remember’ for June Waldron, grand prize winner of the recent Alzheimer Society of  Prince Edward County raffle.

“I purchased the tickets to support a good cause,” she said, noting she did not even imagine she would win.

Last week, the Wellers Bay resident invited her husband Victor and daughter Jennie along for the adventure.

Victor, June and Jennie with chauffeur Jeff Porter, of My Private Driver & Errand Service.

They began their evening at the Huff Estates Inn to check in, and enjoy welcome glasses of wine, and some cheese.
Jeff Porter, of My Private Driver & Errand Service, arrived to meet his guests to chauffeur them during their progressive dinner at County  restaurants.

“Dementia has touched my family,” said Porter. “This is my way of helping.”

Their adventure continued at Clara’s for a soup and salad at Portabella’s for their meal and to Merrill Inn for dessert and coffee. They were returned to Huff Estates to relax with ice wine and enjoy the elegant overnight accommodations and breakfast in the morning.

Jon Leavens, president Alzheimer Society of PEC, presents June the first stem of a bouquet of roses donated by Flowers & Such that she would collect during the evening.

At each of the evening’s locations June gathered roses donated by Flowers & Such.

Ben Ferguson, second prize winner, received overnight accommodation for two, breakfast and a gift certificate from the Merrill Inn.  John Joy, the third prize winner, received a three course meal with wine from Angelo’s Restaurant & Pizzeria.

The “Evening to Remember” raffle raised more than $4,000 to be used to provide essential programs and services to families living with Alzheimer’s disease in Prince Edward County.

One in 10 Ontarians over age 65 has dementia.  If you’re experiencing symptoms, or are concerned for someone you care about, the Alzheimer Society Ontario has developed a list of signs to watch for:

1. Memory loss affecting day-to-day abilities – forgetting things often or struggling to retain new information.

2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks – forgetting how to do something you’ve been doing your whole life, such as preparing a meal or getting dressed.

3. Problems with language – forgetting words or substituting words that don’t fit the context.

4. Disorientation in time and space – not knowing what day of the week it is or getting lost in a familiar place.

5. Impaired judgment – not recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing light clothing on a cold day.

6. Problems with abstract thinking – not understanding what numbers signify on a calculator, for example, or how they’re used.

7. Misplacing things – putting things in strange places, like an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.

8. Changes in mood and behaviour – exhibiting severe mood swings from being easy-going to quick-tempered.

9. Changes in personality – behaving out of character such as feeling paranoid or threatened.

10. Loss of initiative – losing interest in friends, family and favourite activities.

Take concerns about any of these signs to your doctor.
For more information, support and assistance, visit the Alzheimer Society of Prince Edward County at 90 King St., Picton; call 613-476-2085 or visit the Alzheimer Society online.