Sending A Message of Hope

Gimli is gearing up for the 2025 IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s, which takes place on Friday, June 27, at Betel Personal Care Home.

Helping to organize the Walk this year is Ken Krulicki, who participated last year with his wife Brenda and their family members, including their sons and granddaughter.

From Support to Advocacy

Ken’s journey with the Alzheimer Society began in 2020, shortly after Brenda was diagnosed with early-onset dementia. Ken connected with Samantha Holland, First Link® Regional Team Lead, who recommended he try a local care partner support group.

“I thought I was on my own,” he says. “Then I went to my first support group meeting and recognized two or three people. I had no idea they had the same struggles that I did.”

Since then, the support group has become a big part of his routine. In fact, he says he’s missed only two meetings since he initially joined. “You get to a point where you can share your suggestions with new people coming in because you’ve been exactly where they are,” Ken says. “It gives you so much confidence in what you’re doing and hopefully makes someone else’s path a little easier.”

Ken now advocates for other care partners and does all he can to help ensure the support group continues running. He even helps recruit more group members, hoping they also find the confidence he found.

Bringing Community Together

To Ken, the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s is a great opportunity to not only get together as a community in support of families living with dementia but also to raise awareness about the resources available at the Society.

“I’ve been so passionate about the support I’ve received that I‘ve been helping wherever I can,” says Ken.

Last year, Ken helped out at Gimli’s first post-COVID Walk, assisting with the security on the wheelchair-friendly route to help make it easy for people living with mobility challenges to participate, including Brenda, who is a resident at Betel. Seeing care home residents participate alongside family and friends meant the world to him.

Ken’s passion for raising awareness is contagious, and he urges everyone to get involved. “When we come together for this cause, it sends a powerful message of hope to families like mine. You realize you’re not alone,” he says.

Click on the video below to learn more about Ken & Brenda’s story!