BROWNLOW medallist and four-time AFL premiership player Sam Mitchell has been championing a personal cause in Ballarat on grand final eve.
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The decorated Hawk is backing grassroots not-for-profit This Is Dementia, stepping up as guest speaker for the charity's launch night.
Mitchell, a long-time Dementia Australia ambassador, said the national charity does a great job lobbying for a cure and promoting awareness for the disease. But, he wished there was a This Is Dementia-style support group during his experience for dementia.
He speaks up in memory of his mother-in-law who died from an aggressive form of younger onset dementia, aged 62. Her diagnosis came when Mitchell and his wife were starting a family with three children - a son and twin girls - aged under one.
Mitchell says he became mum and dad to his children, while juggling an AFL career, and believes this was still far easier than his wife's role as primary carer for her mum.
When you get dementia it's really isolating, you don't want to go out because you know you're not okay, and it's isolating for carers too.
- Sam Mitchell
"We didn't know what we were doing," Mitchell said. "Six years on, we have more understanding and more education on dementia but what we really needed was a This Is Dementia in our area. This is three young people from Ballarat, trying to engage the community on dementia.
"I'm not from Ballarat but I know (Hawthorn teammate) Brad Sewell has such strong connections here. When you get dementia it's really isolating, you don't want to go out because you know you're not okay, and it's isolating for carers too."
This Is Dementia is founded by Ballarat's young dementia advocates Nick Locandro, Brittany Rose and Meg Curnow to channel their efforts into community connections and events for people living with dementia and their carers.
The launch comes on the day Locandro has arrived home from a gruelling week-long off-road cycle along South Australian Mawson's Trail. This was his second Ride to Remember in honour of his dad Sam, who died two years ago with younger onset dementia.
"When my wife's mother was diagnosed with younger on-set dementia I had no idea about it," Mitchell said.
"There are two types of people when it comes to talking dementia: those who think it's an old lady forgetful thing; the second are those who are more exposed to it and know this is a disease that attacks the brain, changes personality and is physically debilitating.
"We want to try and make as many people as we can in that second category."
There are two types of people when it comes to talking dementia: those who think it's an old lady forgetful thing; the second are those who are more exposed to it and know this is a disease that attacks the brain, changes personality and is physically debilitating. We want to try and make as many people as we can in that second category.
- Sam Mitchell
Mitchell praised This Is Dementia's focus on safe events for people affected by dementia and the trio's work to encourage dementia-friendly businesses.
This Is Dementia hosted its first lunch at The Western earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Mitchell's tip for the big dance at the MCG: "If this were a baseball World Series, I would say Richmond over the seven games, but one-off I'd go the Giants".
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