Before he sits down to share the story of his dementia experience, David Nickel of Chilliwack puts in a long exercise session at the gym.
“I feel ready now,” he said, settling into his chair. “I feel more clarity after coming back from the gym. It’s what really helps my brain feel good.”
Nickel has been named the honouree in Chilliwack for this year’s Walk for Alzheimer’s on May 26, a fundraiser which helps provide local programs and services for families and enables research into the causes of and cure for dementia.
Be it at the gym, on hikes, walks or while golfing, Nickel fully appreciates and enjoys life in Chilliwack, where he and his wife Janet moved more than four years ago.
“Within the short time that I’ve been here, I’ve got over a dozen friends I know by name at the gym and at the golf course. You walk into a grocery store, and everybody smiles and says ‘hi.’ I love it.”
That sense of a small-town community, as well as gaining clarity through exercise and nature, have played significant roles in his life as he navigates his journey with memory loss.
“The biggest things I’d notice were when I’d be going down the stairs to grab something,” he said. “I’d get halfway into the garage and forget what I was there for. A lot of people say even without dementia they have that happen, but this would happen quite a bit.”
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As Janet began noticing more significant changes to her husband’s memory, he visited his doctor and was surprised when he received a diagnosis of early-stage Lewy body dementia in 2019.
Since then, Nickel has taken his diagnosis in stride, using humour to navigate his new reality.
“I’m a bit of a Fitbit fanatic. So, forgetting why I went to the basement and going back up three flights of stairs does help my step-counter,” he said. “Or I say that dementia helps with golfing. Because I’ll forget a few strokes and get a better score.”
Nickel shared his story with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. community, which started with a support group in Chilliwack. Since then, he also spoke on a panel of people living with dementia for a public webinar to mark Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and hopes he can motivate others to share their experiences.
READ MORE: Alzheimer’s can strike at young age, says 43-year-old Chilliwack woman with disease
Along with his advice to exercise, get fresh air and accept support from family and friends, he encourages people living with dementia to appreciate the everyday things that are often overlooked in life.
“I don’t take my life, loves or surroundings for granted, and try to appreciate all the good things I do have.”
The Chilliwack IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s is Sunday, May 26 at the Landing Sports Centre. Registration time is at 1 p.m., and the walk begins at 2 p.m.
For more, including to donate or sign up for the walk, go online.
The Walk for Alzheimer’s is the largest annual fundraising event for the Alzheimer Society of B.C. and provides an opportunity for communities to take action to change the future for the 85,000-plus British Columbians living with dementia and the people who care for them. The event is also an opportunity for people to honour and remember those who have been affected by Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.
Looking for more events taking place in and around Chilliwack? Check out What’s happening Chilliwack in our community section.