In August of 2024, Bev White, who suffered from Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's decided to use Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) to close the last chapter in the book of her life.
In honour of White鈥檚 journey with dementia, her husband, Paul Atterton, started this annual fundraiser for the Alzheimer鈥檚 Society of B.C. - 鈥榃alkin and Talkin.鈥� The first two took place before White鈥檚 passing. This will be the third year the fundraiser is taking place.
鈥淭he first year we raised $9,000 in two weeks. I think we pushed $20,000 the second year and then last year we pushed $30,000 in donations,鈥� shared Atterton.
On April 27, Atterton will host a kickoff fundraiser for "Walk for Alzheimer's" at 40 Knots Vineyard and Estate Winery.
鈥淭here will be food, entertainment by comedian Syd Bosel, refreshments and a silent auction.鈥�
Various local businesses have donated prize packs, such as a golf package for two with an overnight stay at Crown Isle, passes to Mount Washington, RMT Momentum Therapeutic Massage, Roston - two gifts of one-hour massages and other donations are still coming in. Tickets are $150, with a tax receipt for $100 for income taxes purposes. All proceeds go to the Alzheimer鈥檚 Society of B.C..
While the event honours the memory of White and her dedication to fundraising, every year more and more people are touched by Alzheimer鈥檚.
鈥淲hen you start talking to people, every single person has a dementia story. I don鈥檛 want to say that you can鈥檛 get away from it but it鈥檚 there. Everyone has been touched. Lots of people have said, 鈥楬ey Paul, I鈥檓 glad you鈥檙e doing this.鈥� I鈥檓 happy to support the team.鈥�
White was told she had six months to decide if she wanted to use MAiD, as her ability to make life-altering decisions would not be as clear as it was at that point. Even with the choice of MAiD, White had the right to change her mind at any point.
鈥淲ith dementia, as that person progresses through time, that person is less and less cognitive. As they get closer and closer to the day, you鈥檙e constantly reminding them about what they wanted. You ask them to justify to you, at least I did in Bev鈥檚 case - 鈥榃ell, why do you want MAiD?鈥�,鈥� shared Atterton. 鈥淭here wouldn鈥檛 be many minutes in the day in the last while that she was able to say that because the rest of the time she was in a dream-like state.鈥�
Atterton decorated their home with pictures of family members to help keep White鈥檚 mind alive with memories.
鈥淚t became a challenge to me, I will say, as it got closer to the end. It became emotionally hard for me.鈥�
鈥淭he day that Bev passed, it was like living in the eye of a hurricane. It was quiet everywhere. There is peace everywhere and I kind of like that while her book was closed, there was a new chapter starting for me - which was to deal with the estate.鈥�
Atterton wants to continue to contribute to research into Alzheimer鈥檚 with his annual kick off that starts off before the Alzheimer鈥檚 Society of B.C.鈥檚 annual walk on May 25. That event will see people in more than 20 communities across B.C. walk together to honour people affected by dementia. Funds raised through the Walk help the Alzheimer Society of B.C. deliver programs and services to change the future for people affected by dementia.
鈥淵ou come into the world as a baby and there鈥檚 all these joyous moments. And from that point on the journey starts, but when a person picks MAiD, it鈥檚 like the last chapter鈥檚 been written and the book has been closed,鈥� reflects Atterton.
For tickets to the event please follow the Eventbrite link:
