Walk For Alzheimer's 'hits close to home' for local family

It’s been a year and a half since Frank DelBosco, a veteran of local cable television in Sault Ste. Marie for roughly four decades, was diagnosed with dementia.

That’s why three generations of the DelBosco family are walking and raising funds, by way of pledges, for Sunday’s Walk For Alzheimer’s at White Pines Collegiate and Vocational School.

June DelBosco, who is Frank’s wife, says that although her husband is taken care of by “wonderful people” at a local adult care centre twice a week, she pretty much “does it all” for her 80 year-old husband, from giving him his medication to helping him make his doctor appointments.

“He’s a good man, and he tries hard,” DelBosco said. “We try to help him remember things, and that helps a little bit.”

“I see different little things that he doesn’t remember.”

According to Bea Fioramanti, resource development coordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District, this year’s event saw roughly 150 people register for the indoor walk, and has raised just over $39,000 as of Sunday afternoon.

“It feels, really good, very supportive,” said Lisa Harris, daughter of Frank and June DelBosco. “We’re very supportive of this cause, and like I said, it hits close to home, so when it hits close to home you really want to help out and get involved and raise as much as you can.”

“It’s not easy, but we’re doing the very best we can,” DelBosco said. “When you love someone, you do it.”