Moosomin hosts third annual Walk for Alzheimer’s

Saturday, May 30 walk begins at the Legion • Anonymous donor matching donations up to $50,000

May 19, 2026, 12:03 pm
Ashley Bochek, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Moosomin is holding its third annual Alzheimer’s Walk Saturday, May 30.
The walk will begin at the Legion on Main Street at 11 am. Walkers can register online or show up an hour earlier at 10 am Saturday to register.

Rene Whelpton of the Moosomin Alzheimer’s Society is helping organize again this year along with other volunteers and members of the group.

“The Alzheimer’s Walk is Saturday, May 30. The registration will be at 10 am and the walk will start at 11 am. It’s two miles, and it’s the same route as we used last year. We would love people to come out early to register. They can register online at the website ahead of time as well, but everyone must be registered before the walk.”

Wellness Expo with local health-related businesses
Whelpton explains the walk will also provide health-related services and resources from local businesses.

“This year we are adding a Wellness Expo. We’re asking different businesses who are in the health care field if they have any words of wisdom or resources to tell us about how to age well. We’re still in the process of working that out, so hopefully that will be a success.

“Then, we are going to have a hot dog barbecue at 12pm right after the walk, and that’s going to be a donation so it’s free. We hope it allows us to keep socializing with people. We really want people to know about the Alzheimer’s Society and the resources available, it’s an invaluable resource, I think.

“Right now, our group isn’t meeting because we’re looking for leadership. We are figuring that out so the group can start running again, but we usually spend the first hour sharing where we’re at, what’s happened over the last month, our concerns, our worries, and then we spend the second hour learning about dementia, how to care for your loved one, how to care for yourself, it’s invaluable.

“When we have our support group going again, then you can join our group if you or a family member has Alzheimer’s, or any form of dementia. Dementia is a broad umbrella, Alzheimer’s is just one form of it. Then we can help you connect with the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan, and get a lot of very good resources.”

Whelpton says the group has reached out to local businesses to have representatives at this year’s walk to show support.

“We are hoping that businesses will also make a team by sending a few representatives or even if they just send one staff member to walk for their team and show their support for the cause. We really want to show Regina that our little community rallies behind causes that are near-and-dear to our hearts.

“We also want to encourage individuals or teams—you can register a team, and have individuals register as a member of the team—to register online before the walk. This will help us know how many walkers are coming and will cut down on registration time on the walk day. We will always take registrations and donations on the day of the walk as well.”

Details of walk
Whelpton explains the walk route and the accessibility for everyone attending.

“We’re starting at the Legion at 11 am. Then we will walk down Broadway West, down Broadway to Cook Road, and then back up Windover. That’s the full route. But if you don’t feel like walking the whole way there’s all those cross streets you can just cut through early and then come back, make your own little square. That’s why we picked that route because you can shorten it as much as you want—some people may have difficulty walking that far, but they still want to walk a little bit. And if you don’t want to walk, but you want to be part of it, you can still register as a walker and just come hang out at the Legion with us.”

She says everyone is welcome to join and enjoy socializing with community members May 30.

“We’re hoping for a beautiful day. Anyone can come out, socialize, hang out, look at the literature, and just visit. Get to know us as a group and ask questions.

“We will also have these paper flowers. We had them last year, and on there you can write in memory of. I would put my mom, my dad, my mother-in-law. I am hoping we can then put them at the Co-op grocery store and around town. So then people can buy a flower for $2, put their loved one’s name on it, and then have them put it up in the stores windows and donate to the walk that way as well.”

Connection to Alzheimer’s
Whelpton says she found emotional and mental support through Moosomin Alzheimer’s Society.

“My mom and my dad lived in BC, so when they started exhibiting symptoms, it was really hard to be far away from them and know how to help them. My dad passed away and then my mom was getting worse. I’m sure I saw it in the paper years ago about the Alzheimer’s care group, so I thought I needed to go to that. I went to everything, as many meetings as I could once a month. That’s how I got involved with the support group three years ago and that has been what saved my mental and emotional state many times.

“There is so much support, some laughter and tears, but so much wisdom and so much education that I was able to relate to with my mom and it made it better for me to help her and have a better relationship with her and with myself in that sense.”

She says another group member, Bill Thorn, suggested a Walk for Alzheimer’s in Moosomin a couple years ago.

“Three years ago, Bill Thorn brought it to the group explaining the Walk for Alzheimer’s and saying we should do it. Our whole support group said we’d help. We all took different jobs and we’d like to continue to do it each year.

“I’m the youngest member of the group and feel I took on the leadership of it this year, but I’ve got some good help, which makes it easier, and because we’ve done it twice now and we’re not reinventing any wheels it’s not as hugely stressful.”

She says the group helped her overcome challenges in her personal life.
“There was a need in my own life and this support group was there. I think people need to realize they maybe need some support information, and that there is help available and just humble themselves to go to a support group. It’s been wonderful for myself.”

Importance of walk
Whelpton explains the Alzheimer’s Walk is to offer support and resources to locals by raising awareness.

“The walk is important to raise awareness of dementia, not just Alzheimer’s. We want to raise awareness that there are resources out there, locally and provincially.

“We want to raise awareness that you’re not alone because if we don’t walk and if we don’t share our story, someone who is new to this journey might feel they don’t know anyone experiencing the same thing, and feel very alone, and struggle to live well themselves and to care for their loved ones as well.”

“But if you know that there are other people out there who have walked the same road, you know who to reach out to, and we can reach out as well so that is why we walk. A lot of it is awareness as well as raising funds for Alzheimer’s. Hopefully eventually there will be a cure or other ways to live comfortably with slowing down the progression of any kind of dementia, raising funds hopefully can give us more access to support programs and resources so that we can help our loved ones live better.”

Whelpton says the walk is organized by volunteers each year.

“Last year, I’m sure there was at least 25 of us that were involved with organizing it, in big and smaller ways, but everything was valuable. Some took a bigger role to make it successful and so nobody gets overwhelmed.”


Over 100 walkers last year
Walkers are asked to come early at 10am to register before the walk starts at 11 am.

“The first year we did it, we started at Cobblestone, and we had over 100 walkers which was amazing because it was a cold day. I remember wearing ski jackets the first year, and last year we would have had at least 120 walkers as well. It was a beautiful day. We never know who’s all going to show up because even though the Alzheimer’s Society wants everyone to sign-up and register ahead of time sometimes people just sign up that day. They just come with their registration form, and say they want to walk. So that’s why we’d like people to come early if they’re not pre-registered because we have to register everybody, and get them to sign a waiver. We’re hoping for at least 100 people.

“It’s just so much fun. It is so much fun to see everybody out there and listen to their stories and encourage one another.”


One donor matching up to $50,000 this year
Whelpton explains a donor has offered to match all proceeds up to $50,000 for the Walk for Alzheimer’s in Moosomin this year.

“It is just so encouraging that someone cares enough to help us raise a great amount of money and I hope that people will think, ‘Wow my dollar will go double!’ So the more incentive there is for people to donate. Every little bit counts, like every $25, $50 or $100, when you add them all up, you get a lot of money. So the fact that there’s someone who can match our donation, it’s very encouraging and very exciting! We are so thankful.”


Community support
Whelpton says the group is thankful for the continuous community support each year.

“I never thought it was going to be this big these past few years. The first year I thought we could get about 20 people walking with us. Then, people kept coming and coming then and our jar—we had a donation jar—and it kept getting fuller and fuller.

“The first year our walk was called Walk-in-a-box where we were given a tool kit from Alzheimer’s Saskatchewan, and we did whatever we thought was best. We had no idea in the sense of what we were doing, but the Regina office was supportive, and then they were so impressed with the number of walkers and the amount of money we raised that we asked if we could do an ‘in-person walk’ is what they call it, and that’s when it’s a named location on their website along with cities like Regina, Saskatoon, Swift Current, and Prince Albert.

“We received more support and more guidance from the Regina office, and they were amazed so Moosomin is the only town who also hosts an in-person walk in Saskatchewan. The Regina office has told us many times they are amazed and have said, ‘You guys are so passionate, excited, and committed to this.’

“We also have the privilege to educate the bigger centers on how our small town does things because we didn’t follow all of their guidelines—we knew to be successful in Moosomin and in a small town—we don’t have a radio station so we can only promote with posters and through the newspaper and Facebook, talking to your neighbors, it was very different that way, but they loved our ideas and they are so proud of us. So we taught them different ways to fundraise and they were very grateful for learning. There are different ways to raise money, holding a walk and raising awareness—it’s not always just like the city can do. It’s just a different culture.”

She encourages all to join the walk to educate themselves and listen to stories from community members who have experienced dementia in some way.

“It has been such a success, and I hope it can be that much of a success again this year. I tell people you don’t have to give a lot of money, but we would love you to come out and just walk with us, show support, hear our stories. You might not be in that situation right now, but give yourself five or 10 years as grandma gets older or a loved one gets older, and you might be in a situation where you need these resources.”


Moosomin’s fundraising for Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan
Moosomin hosted its first Walk for Alzheimer’s three years ago. Since then, the community and support group has raised more than $200,000 for the Saskatchewan Alzheimer’s Society.

“So far we have raised over $200,000 over the past two walks. Each year it goes to the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan where they use a lot of it for research and the money stays in Saskatchewan.

“We are trying to encourage them that more of the money that is raised needs to come back to some of the cities or the town that have raised it, for programs, support, and resources. That’s one way, we feel we’re trying to educate or show the provincial headquarters that these are needs that you can help fill.”

She said the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan has been good to work with in organizing the walk.

“We enjoy working with them. I think it’s been a positive thing working with them.”

Excited for this year
Whelpton says she is excited for the upcoming walk this year and looks forward to socializing with the community.

“I am most excited to see the people. I love connecting with people, and I love sharing my story and hopefully encouraging them in their journey. I want people to know that there’s support and help out there. So I’m excited for the people coming out.

“The donation already pledged is fantastic. That gets us excited to raise awareness and get even more donations.”

She says walkers participate from many surrounding communities as well.

“I appreciate the support that we’ve received from the community and surrounding communities. When people come to the walk, I ask them where they’re from, if they’re not familiar, and some come from Maryfield, Redvers, Rocanville, Fleming, Broadview, so it is really neat to see a bunch of surrounding towns come to Moosomin saying we have loved ones too and we support you. That’s been exciting.

“The Moosomin Chamber of Commerce has been great in terms of inviting me to speak at their meetings, and promoting the walk. Mayor Murray Gray has been very supportive as well each year.

“It makes us feel like our cause is important and valued in our small community, it makes me feel very good. We want to thank our community for being a town that cares, that rallies behind needs and causes that affect those in our community, and does something to help.

“I’m very thankful for our community and the people who are willing to volunteer their time and help out every year.”


If you’re interested in registering:
Go to the website www.walkforalzheimers.ca
Click Register
Select Saskatchewan
Select Moosomin
Decide how you want to register or donate online