By Natalee Kerr
Next month’s Great Ocean Road Running Festival will be more than just a race for Point Lonsdale’s Erena Crowley.
The first-time runner will dedicate her 6km event to raising money for Dementia Australia, a cause close to her heart since mum Anna Norgard died from the disease four years ago aged 68.
Anna’s 2008 diagnosis was a “shock” to her family, Erena said.
“Mum was a very social and active person. She was healthy and fit.
“She was only 58 when she was diagnosed, so it was quite early and unexpected.“
Erena said her dad “did a fabulous job” of caring for her mum at their Portarlington home for about eight years before she went into residential care.
“As time went on it came to a point where doctors advised we put her into a higher level of care.
“She was only in her mid-sixties then, which is not really that old to be in an old person’s home.”
Greater Geelong has one of Victoria’s largest population of dementia sufferers, estimated at 4706.
Erena was confident Anna would be “very impressed” with her daughter’s efforts raising money for Dementia Australia.
“Mum was always conscious about giving back to her community.
“She was really into fundraising, so it’s great to be able to continue the things she was passionate about.“
Erena signed up for her first run at the aged of 42 after a friend completed an Ironman event.
“Running is not really my strong suit,” she admitted.
“It’s going to take me a while to run 6km but my aim is not for time – I just want to finish.
“My priority is to get the message out there that early onset dementia can be really early for some people.”
Erena was “really grateful for everyone’s support” so far.
“I’ve raised over $1300, which is just great as I thought I’d be pushing my luck with raising $1000.”
The Great Ocean Road Running Festival is on 18 to 19 May.
