Astronaut Steve MacLean is the new Ambassador of the Federation of Quebec Alzheimer Societies Français
MONTREAL, Jan. 16, 2018 /CNW/ - "I have always been involved in health research, when I was an astronaut and still today. As part of my two missions in space, it was part of the focus of my energy and passion. Now that I am supporting my wife Nadine through her journey as a caregiver for her mom who is affected by Alzheimer's, I understand the importance of bringing my personal contribution.",responded Steve MacLean, when approached by the Federation of Quebec Alzheimer Societies (FQAS) to become its Ambassador.
"The Federation is very proud to welcome Steve MacLean on our team as we get ready to launch our first major fund-raising campaign," explained Jean-Francois Lamarche, Executive Director and CEO of the FQSA. "Mr. MacLean has remarkable expertise in research, but most of all, he is a sensitive human being, full of compassion with people around him. Mr. MacLean will certainly help us in getting our message across to the public stage." he continued.
In addition to doing health research in space, Steve MacLean spent several years as President of the Canadian Space Agency. Today, he is an associate professor at the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) of the University of Waterloo and researcher in the Quantum Field Therory.
In Quebec, it is estimated that some 17 people a day learn that they have Alzheimer or other forms of dementia. There are currently some 141,000 Quebecers living with Alzheimer's and there will be more than 250,000 in 2022. Each of these individuals has an average of three caregivers, and in some cases, there are as many as eight.
With the national awareness campaign, the Federation, the 20 regional Alzheimer Societies it represents and Steve MacLean all want to remind us that everyone living with Alzheimer's remains a human being who is an integral part of society. A person is not defined by the disease.
"My mother-in-law recently received a diagnosis of Alzheimer's. She remains the same person before and after receiving her diagnosis. Caregiving is for us a family matter. My wife is the caregiver and along with my children, we want to help my mother-in-law to preserve her passion for life as long as possible," Steve MacLean explains. "People living with Alzheimer's disease are human beings who need human contact, compassion and friendship, and it is up to all of us to take responsibility for supporting them, with dignity and respect. It is therefore with dignity and pride that I have agreed to be the Federation's Ambassador!".
To obtain more information, visit our website at www.alzheimerquebec.ca
About the Federation of Quebec Alzheimer Societies (FQAS)
For more than 30 years, the FQSA has represented, supported and defended the rights of the 141,000 Quebeckers affected by Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia and their caregivers. It acts as the provincial spokesperson for the 20 Alzheimer Societies present in all Quebec regions and offering persons affected and their caregivers, through programs, services and training, support and guidance to allow them to preserve the best possible quality of life. Moreover, the Federation raises public awareness of the personal and social consequences for those with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia and contributes to research on their causes, treatments and cure.
For information: http://www.alzheimerquebec.ca
Facebook : @LaFederationQuebecoiseDesSocietesAlzheimer
Twitter : @FqsaAlzh
SOURCE Federation of Quebec Alzheimer Societies
Sylvie Piché, Director, Communications et Special Events, 514 369 7891 # 225, [email protected]
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