This year, I am walking because dementia has affected my family in a very personal way. My dad is living with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), something that has affected generations of my family.

Many people don't know what frontotemporal dementia is. It is a form of dementia that often affects people younger than the typical Alzheimer's patients. FTD impacts personality, behaviour and communication. It can go unnoticed or misunderstood for a long time. 

One of the hardest parts about FTD is that it can run in families. Knowing that it has affected multiple generations in my family makes it something that feels very close to home. It's scary to think about the possibility that my sister or I could face this one day, and it's something not many people my age (23) have to think about yet. That's part of why raising awareness about FTD matters so much to me. It doesn't just affect one person; it affects entire families.

That's why participating in the Alzheimer's Walk means so much to me. I want to help raise awareness about dementia, support people and families who are going through it, and contribute to research that could one day lead to better treatments or a cure.

My goal is to raise $500, and any support truly means a lot to my family and me. If you would like to join my team and walk with me for my dad, please join the team named 'Dad Jokes' to highlight his hilarious jokes.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for supporting such an important cause.