Four in five Australians feel uncomfortable around people with dementia, a new Dementia Australia survey shows, and 60 per cent of people were unsure what to say, most worrying they would not be understood.

Locandro has been overwhelmed with the community and businesses taking up his challenge to learn more about the disease, which is the second leading cause of death in Australia. He cycled 2200 kilometres home from Uluru, flanked by friends Jamie Huggett and Jarrod King, to encourage people to learn more.

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Update figures show more than 3,100 Ballarat people are living with dementia. Cases are projected to increase to almost 4,300 in the next decade and 7,000 by 2058, according to Dementia Australia.

Locandro started piecing together A Ride to Remember as a tribute to his dad Sam, who died last year with an aggressive form of younger onset dementia. In planning, Locandro’s focus quickly adapted to a need for greater community awareness.

He knew first-hand how confronting and isolating dementia can be for his dad, and family as carers. 

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Arriving home a fortnight ago, Locandro’s mission is far from finished. He has been working with Europa Cafe, The Western Hotel and Hop Temple to become dementia friends – a 15-minute online awareness course.

Locandro is back into training for the National Road Series and upcoming Tour of Gippsland and working with his team, Anchor Point, on a partnership with Dementia Australia for next season.

In between, Locandro is also collating all the people along the way who have accepted his challenge, become a dementia friend and posted about it online.

“The course has a lot of simple videos and people are really surprised about younger onset dementia, how people with dementia can be still at work and with young families,” Locandro said. “People in Ballarat are starting to understand dementia more.”

Ballarat hosted a national symposium on love and dementia in early 2017 and has captured national attention for the Bigger Hearts campaign towards a dementia-friendly Ballarat.

About 70 per cent of Australians with dementia live in their own homes. Dementia Australia’s dementia friends course promotes the small things that can make a big difference for inclusiveness in the community, like simple as showing more patience in a shopping queue.

More than 5000 people sign up to become dementia friends for Dementia Awareness Month in September.

Locandro has been encouraging people to become dementia friends and share on social media with hashtag #aridetoremember. People can keep posting as Locandro is keen for this message to keep travelling.

You can become a dementia friend here.

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