Manulife Walk for Memories 2010 at the Allen Lambert Galleria was absolutely wonderful. Over 960 walkers raised an unbelievable $547,000, far exceeding our $400,000 goal. About 1200 walkers, family, friends and volunteers came out to remember and honour family and friends who have been touched by Alzheimer’s. Just look at the photos to get a real flavour of the event.

The morning kicked off with music from the stage, and performances from the Habeeba Belly Dancers and Hawaiian Pacific Magic who thrilled and delighted the audience with their moves, and then the fabulous Go Freddie Go and Erica Peck had the crowd rocking with their oldies and goldies. On the ground stilt walker Top Hat, Batman, Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe, and magician Bobby Motta were busy schmoozing with everyone. Sonny Tran, Susan Welland, Elaine Charal and Kristina Rembalski worked overtime to give everyone tattoos, caricatures, analyse walker’s handwriting and predict the future. Dear friend, Barry Lew from Timothy’s kept the coffee brewing and the food, thanks to many generous merchants was varied and plentiful. Many people took a moment to honour and remember family members with Alzheimer’s, by posting photos and stories on the Manulife Wall of Memories.

At ten o’clock, Tom Harrington, our fabulous MC, welcomed everyone, including Andrew Ignatieff and Donna Cansfield who brought greetings and led the yellow shoe lace tying ceremony. Hip hop group Twisted Ankles led the warm up and then cheered on by stilt walker Top Hat everyone went down into the PATH for the Walk. Along the route Sammy Cheng from Toronto Lion Dance, InfraRed Calypso, Christina Doyle, Sultans of String, Joaquin Nunez, Jonathan Lee and stilt walkers Lindsay and Galen charmed the walkers with their talent. Then it was back to the Allen Lambert Galleria for Erica Peck and some great music from Go Freddie Go and the closing ceremonies.

Tom Harrington jumped back on stage to hand out the prizes to the top Team, top fundraisers, and the most innovative costumes. Top Walker Dorina Vendramin raised over $9,000, followed by Fern Stimpson and Kathleen Allan. This was Dorina’s fourth time on the podium…and in accepting her gift she sent out a challenge to everyone to try and beat her next year, but warned that she planned to be there of the next 10 years. The Top Team prize went to Team Manulife who in a race to the finish beat last year’s winners Team Deloitte by raising almost over $33,000.

Just before everyone headed home, we once again raised our yellow shoelaces to remember why we had joined together for this very special day.

To all of you who came, raised money, donated, volunteered, dressed in a costume and participated in the fun – an enormous thank you.

AND we look forward to seeing you next January for the next great Manulife Walk for Memories.