Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

March raises awareness about Alzheimer’s

A sea of purple shirts filled the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park on Friday afternoon.
They were worn by advocates for Alzheimer’s awareness, many of whom experience the effects of the disease and other forms of dementia on a daily basis.

“We need as citizens and we need as a community to educate our children that dementia is nothing to play with. It is something serious, and each day when I’m looking at my mom I hurt at times,” said Sonia Desuza as she sat next to her mother, Gloria Lindssey.

They were awaiting the start of the Alzheimer’s Awareness Walk. Though the event was originally scheduled for Sept. 20 and delayed a week due to storms, many showed up to support the cause.

“It was a great awareness day for the VI Alzheimer’s Association,” said president Edna Williams. “The walk was excellent. I think every year it gets bigger and better and we only hope for more greater things in the future.”

Ms. Williams said that more than 130 people attended the march and over 600 t-shirts were sold in support of the cause. Those who were unable to attend the march showed solidarity the same day by wearing the shirts.

With a police escort, participants walked down Waterfront Drive during rush hour, drawing attention from pedestrians and drivers alike. They went down to Peebles Hospital, then back through Waterfront Drive before returning to the park and celebrating their campaign.

Because of the recent storms, the association was unable to organise a vigil after the walk as it usually does, but it plans to host the event within the coming months.

‘I know’
The VIAA was conceived after Ms. Williams noticed a change in a Rotarian friend’s behaviour. She sensed something was wrong after he stopped driving and stopped coming to meetings. As soon as her friend told her that he had Alzheimer’s, she responded, “I know.”

She began giving him a ride to their meetings and started researching the disease. What began as a favour for a friend has turned into a nonprofit organisation with over 40 members.

In June, the association was accepted into the Executive Council of Alzheimer’s Disease International, a federation of 100 associations around the world.

“The association was mentored and evaluated over a two-year period prior to being asked to apply for full membership,” Ms. Williams explained. “We did reports and different activities to demonstrate that we were doing the work.”

In September, it launched the “You Are Not Alone” programme, which aims to support family caregivers. It also runs a youth support group for children and grandchildren of people affected by the disease.

Additionally, the association plans to host trainings for businesses and organisations to educate the public in taking care of people affected by Alzheimer’s.

“One of the things we need to do is develop a national policy which would address the treatment of persons living with dementia,” Ms. Williams said. “That is basically a mandate that we have coming through Alzheimer’s International. It’s also a mandate of the World Health Organization.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
×