Pippa McManus

This is the second year I have been involved in Alzheimer’s WA’s Walk To Remember. Last year I was able to raise just over $5000! This year I have been brought on as an ambassador and am hoping to both beat last year’s donations and to raise much needed awareness for people living with dementia in Western Australia, especially amongst younger people caring for a parent with the disease.

I lost my father Bill McManus to Alzheimer's disease after a seven-year battle back in 2001. As a teenager is was both heartbreaking and confusing to see a parent slip away. A can of Swan Gold in hand, he was always the life of the party. I loved watching him interact with his mates, never short of a good joke told with an Irish lilt. I remember clearly the day a friend of his greeted him with an outstretched hand ready for a shake and dad just looked down at it blankly. Then began the impossible journey of diagnosis.

In January 2016, fifteen years later, my beautiful mother Sonia McManus was diagnosed with the same disease. Now I'm playing the part that my mother played back then and I am so grateful everyday to Alzheimer's WA for the support I have received. They are truly wonderful. They are helping mum live a full and happy life while offering incredible support to me as her carer through workshops, events and most importantly someone to chat to whenever I need information or advice. As an Ambassador, the more people that I can let know about Alzheimer's WA, the greater their impact.

You can sponsor me and leave a message by selecting the donate button above.

Thanks for supporting our efforts in raising money for this cause.