The annual Grant McBride Memory Walk took place on the Central Coast recently and a team of Warnervale Wellness Centre walkers were there to show their support.
“The walk is close to the heart of everyone at the Warnervale Wellness Centre as Grant McBride was a client for three years, attending the day centre five days a week,” says Michelle Webb, coordinator Catholic Healthcare Commonwealth Home and Support Program on the Central Coast.
“It was a great opportunity for the team to take part in the Walk to honour Grant’s memory as well as help raise awareness, reduce the stigma and raise funds for the fight against dementia.”
Grant McBride was an engineer, teacher and Minister in the NSW Parliament and is the father of Emma McBride MP, Federal Member for Dobell on the NSW Central Coast. The Walk is in honour of Emma’s father, and her grandmother, who both had dementia.
“I was delighted to see the Warnervale Wellness Centre team,” says Emma. “They cared for my Dad for many years and it’s wonderful they joined us in celebrating Dad’s life and legacy.
“We knew that when Dad was at the Warnervale Wellness Centre he was cared for and always treated with kindness, respect and compassion. Through the patience and kindness of the staff Dad came to enjoy his time there. He loved music, so one of his favourite activities was joining in with the singing. It always made him happy.”
The Grant McBride Memory Walk took off from Saltwater Creek Park in Long Jetty where participants could choose the distance they were able to walk. The Warnervale Wellness Centre team completed 4km and is donating just over $200 to the Grant McBride Memory Walk cause, along with setting up individual fundraising pages of their own.
Pictured with Emma McBride MP (centre) are from left to right: David Harris MP, Lauren Winstanley (Care Worker), Brenden Crowe (CBS Carpentry & Building Solutions), Lorraine DeSilva (Care Worker), Michelle Webb (Coordinator Warnervale Wellness Centre), Lynn Pascoe (Care Advisor RL) and Nicola Rosenthal (Catholic Healthcare Regional Manager).