An Alzheimer’s disease awareness group has awarded two UWindsor research labs a total of $5,000 to advance their work.

The group Precious Memories hosted its 11th annual Alzheimer’s awareness event called Friends Supporting Friends on Sunday, Sept. 8, to raise funds for the Alzheimer Society of Windsor & Essex County.

The event also supports research and demonstrated that with the donation to professors Siyaram Pandey of chemistry and biochemistry and Anthony Bain of kinesiology. Dr. Pandey’s lab feeds mice natural extracts to slow down the progression of the disease. Dr. Bain’s laser research treats Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Gino Lomazzo is the chair and lead organizer of the event, which he created after his mother lost her battle with the disease.

“Precious Memories is about friends getting together to share their experiences and challenges about Alzheimer’s,” says Lomazzo. “We are all so grateful for our grandparent and parents, their struggles have given us the lives we live today.”

He says this year’s focus was local research, as it is the only way forward.

“I pray to God we have a cure soon; it is all about research,” he says.

Over the years the annual event has raised approximately $90,000. The 2024 Precious Memories event raised $9,000 with $5,000 going to the UWindsor labs and $4,000 going to the Alzheimer Society of Windsor-Essex.