Why Royce Simmons' 300km Walk Matters for Dementia Research

Royce Simmons, a 67‑year‑old former Penrith Panthers skipper, was diagnosed with early‑onset Alzheimer’s disease when he was 61, five years ago. He decided to walk to raise money and awareness for dementia.

In his fifth annual walk, he walked more than 300 kilometres from Gilgandra to Cowra in New South Wales’ Central West. So far this year the walk has raised more than $170,000, and over the last five years it has collected more than $2.2 million for dementia research.

Dementia is the leading cause of death in Australia, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. About 446,000 Australians are thought to be living with some form of dementia, and roughly 1.7 million people help care for someone with the condition.

The money from the walk goes to research programs that aim to find a cure and to support services for people affected by dementia. By sharing his personal challenge, Simmons brings public attention to a health issue that affects many families.

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