TWO aged care senior managers are off to the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea to help people with dementia.
Lifeview Residential Care’s James van Beek and Sarah Pettenon will take on the gruelling 96km trek in aid of Alzheimer’s research and support to mark Dementia Awareness Month in September.
Mr van Beek, Lifeview’s chief financial officer, and Ms Pettenon, its person-directed care manager, have been training extensively to prepare for the 10-day trek, a physically challenging experience that will test their endurance and resilience.
Mr van Beek said he was not just doing the trek “to conquer the obvious physical and mental challenges the terrain and weather conditions will throw at me, but also to pay my respects to the World War II soldiers that repelled a Japanese invasion in one of the most significant battles fought and won by Australian soldiers during World War II”.
The pair, along with Lifeview residents, staff and families, are fundraising to underpin their efforts – including raffling a trailer full of household goods worth around $3000.
All funds raised will go directly to Alzheimer’s Australia Vic.
