Three hundred people walked or jogged Lake Wendouree on Sunday morning in recognition of people living with dementia, their families and their carers.
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Participants completed a 8km, 6km or 2km course and raised funds for Dementia Australia's first Memory Walk and Jog event in Ballarat.
Ballarat mother and daughter team Wendy and Chase Hamilton walked 6km and raised more than $1200 in memory of Wendy's father, grandmother and grandfather who all died with dementia.
"It was an acknowledgement of what Dementia Australia do, how fantastic our carers are and our unknown carers who don't ask for assistance but should really reach out," Ms Hamilton said.
"I only really knew pop with dementia so it was good to recognise him in that way," daughter Chase said.
Ms Hamilton said her family appreciated support from Dementia Australia in caring for her father.
They helped everyone live a more normal life, pop and nan included.
- Chase Hamilton, Memory Walk and Jog participant
Support included information about how to manage his behaviours, carer support for her mother and organising activity groups and a carer with similar interests for her father.
"For my mum it was a long road, it was nine years," Ms Hamilton said.
"She could at least have that break when dad had a carer come to the residence... or he would go out to a planned activity group. For dad to socialise with other people was really good."
"They helped everyone live a more normal life, pop and nan included," Chase said.
Dementia Australia statistics reveal there are an estimated 3400 people currently living with dementia in Ballarat.
This is estimated to rise to 7000 by 2058 without a medical breakthrough.
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Dementia Australia chief executive Maree McCabe awareness about dementia was important to better equip communities to support people living with dementia, their families and their carers.
She said more than $31,500 raised during the Ballarat event would support early intervention programs, counselling, activities, carer groups and dementia education, including in Ballarat.
Ms McCabe said education and support could enable people living with dementia stay at home longer and remain engaged in doing the things they love.
"The more people who know about dementia, the better equipped we are to keep people engaged, to keep them doing things that are important to them and to stop that cycle of social isolation," she said.
Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia behind heart disease and the leading cause of death of women.
One in 13 people living with dementia in Australia are in their 50s, their 40s and their 30s.
More more information about dementia, visit Dementia Australia's website or call the dementia helpline on 1800 100 500.
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