Alzheimer Society Coffee Break

By Candace Bertrim

On Saturday, August 29, the Alzheimer Society of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, along with friends and families, celebrated a major donation that was made to help kick start the Coffee Break® campaign in the Frontenac area.
Colonial St. Pierre and his family have donated $1000 to the campaign in memory of his wife Annette (Nettie), who had suffered from Alzheimer Disease and who recently passed away. Colonial and Annette’s son Miles and his wife Susan; Annette’s sister Daphne Gardiner; Colonial’s sister Brenda Watson and many other family members were on hand to offer their support.

Colonial St. Pierre spoke about the help he and his family had received after contacting the Alzheimer Society and said how grateful he was for that support. He encouraged others whose family members suffer from Alzheimers or a related dementia not to wait too long before asking for help. He felt it was important to get the word out and let people know that help is available and he wanted to make the donation to encourage others to support the local office and to ensure continued services to the North and Central Frontenac communities.
Patty Medora-Dixon, President of the KFL&A Alzheimer Society Board of Directors, spoke about the services that the Alzheimer Society provides: awareness, education, counseling and support for families and caregivers. She said the society had recognized that there was a need for more local supports in rural areas and she thanked Candace Bertrim for all the work she has done in getting the Sharbot Lake office up and running. Patty also assured the group and the community that funds generated from the Coffee Break fundraisers in our area would remain in the community.

Roger Dowker, past president of the BOD Alzheimer Society, spoke of how he had hoped for services to be started in the rural areas when he was president. He said he was pleased to see that services were now offered locally to the community.
Annette St. Pierre’s sister Daphne is a local artist from Franktown, and she has generously donated a painting to the society, which will be used in January to generate funds and awareness.

COFFEE BREAK® HOSTS SOUGHT:

Coffee Break® is the national fundraising campaign for the Alzheimer Society, and Coffee Break events have raised approximately $11 million since the campaign began in 1996, with more than $1.27 million raised in 2008 alone. Participants make a donation in exchange for a cup of coffee or purchase a coffee cup cut-out at participating retailers or local organizations. Many people also host a virtual coffee break online at www.alzheimercoffeebreak.ca.
The society is seeking new hosts for Coffee Break in the Frontenac area. Hosts will receive a kit containing all the necessary promotional materials such as banners, posters and invitations to make their event a success.

The official Kick Off for the Coffee Break campaign will be held on Sept.18, at 10 am at the Northern Frontenac Telephone Company. For more information contact Candace Bertrim at 613-279-WELL (9355).

The Alzheimer office is located in the Seniors Centre, 1042 Elizabeth Street, Sharbot Lake.