Print
Email
Local woman raises $10 000 for Alzheimer Society of B.C.
Kerri Sutherland, a 61-year-old woman from North Vancouver, is about to take on the biggest athletic challenge of her life.
This September she, along with her lifelong friend Moira Greaven, will be embarking on an 800km bicycle ride through the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain, while raising money and awareness to fight Alzheimer’s disease in British Columbia.
Kerri is taking on this journey in memory of her father Jimmie who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease before passing away in 2003.
Kerri describes the challenges of the physically demanding route to be a reflection of the daily struggles her father lived with every day throughout the final five years of his life. She feels this will be enough to keep her motivated both mentally and physically during the 21 days it will take to complete the course.
The daily training she began at the start of the year will help. “Since January 2011, I try to exercise every day, whether with my personal trainer, Michelle, taking spin classes, swimming lengths in the pool at my condo, or walking,” says Sutherland.
This type of cross-training will come in handy as the Camino de Santiago trail is filled with intense mountainous ranges and serene flatlands stretching across much of several major provinces of the Spanish nation as well as much of Europe. Recognized for its rich history, the Camino de Santiago has been commonly travelled for more than 1,000 years and is also referred to as the way of St. James, the great apostle.
Sutherland and Greaven will also have the chance to take in local history throughout their journey. “We will stay in the local hostels called albergues. The albergues are former monasteries, hospitals, or other buildings in the towns along the way that are now used to house the pilgrims. Some hold as many as 100 pilgrims,” explains Sutherland.
“You must have a credential (pilgrim passport) in order to stay in the albergues. If we would like a little more luxury there are private albergues, pensions, and hotels available as well.“
Representing the Alzheimer Society of B.C, Sutherland’s committed to raising a minimum of $10,000 in benefit of the 70,000 British Columbian’s currently facing the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease. She also currently works for the Alzheimer Society of B.C. as the support and education coordinator for the North Shore/Sunshine Coast resource centre.
If you would like to support Sutherland in her journey, visit her website.
