Ride for Alzheimer’s
Roxanne Springer has been passionate about making a difference for families living with dementia for a long time. This past January, she turned to her community, and they answered back – braving snowy weather and icy rural roads to attend her first Ride for Alzheimer’s snowmobile poker derby held in Faulkner to support Manitobans impacted by dementia.
The event was a huge success, with around 70 snowmobile riders participating and well over 400 poker hands purchased.
“I’ve always wanted to host a fundraiser to help support families living with dementia and feel so happy with how this event turned out,” Roxanne says.
Alzheimer’s has played a significant part in Roxanne’s life. Her grandfather passed away from dementia in 2005, and she saw just how life-altering this disease can be for both the person living with it and those caring for them.
“It all comes back to my grandfather,” she says. “Alzheimer’s is a mean disease. It was hard to see my grandfather’s skills and abilities change even though he was physically well.”
Roxanne’s family cared for her grandfather at home until the end and she saw every step of dementia, every change and every struggle. “Seeing him each day and having him not know me was tough. He had difficulty communicating with anyone, it was almost like he was stuck inside of himself,” she says. “I’ve wanted to do all I can to help other families who are struggling with dementia ever since and hope one day we can find a cure.”
Thanks to Roxanne’s hard work and dedication, her event raised $6,810, which was donated to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba. These funds help the Society continue its work so families have a place to turn for guidance and support.
Roxanne’s goal for January 2026 is to make her event even bigger – no matter what the weather brings.
“It was truly humbling. I didn’t realize how many people in our area have someone they know affected by dementia. It just makes you want to fight harder. I’m so thankful and proud of what our community accomplished together.”
To learn more about how you can support the Alzheimer Society and families impacted by dementia through fundraising events, visit our Anything for Alzheimer’s page.