Dementia campaigners and supporters gathered in Queens Park on Saturday to release coloured balloons in support of Alzheimers Queensland.
Claudia Baxter
THE Ipswich sky was dotted with turquoise coloured spots on Saturday as Ipswich dementia campaigners released 100 balloons to raise awareness of the deadly disease.
Led by dementia awareness campaigner Debbie Phipps, friends, family and supporters gathered at Queens Park for the second balloon release.
Mrs Phipps hoped the event, held for the first time last year, would continue to push their case for increased funding to find a cure.
Dementia affects 280,000 Australians, and by 2050 the number of people suffering from the disease is expected to reach one million.
Mrs Phipps said since beginning to campaign for the cause last year she had educated many people unaware of the devastating effects of dementia.
"A lot of people are really happy and have learnt things about dementia they didn't know about. A lot of people don't know much about it," she said.
"It's that support and knowing someone else cares and understands."
Among the supporters on Saturday was Patti Gerchow, who watched her mother succumb to dementia symptoms.
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Balloons raise dementia awareness
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