During September and October, the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba encourages people and businesses to host "coffee breaks" to raise awareness and money to fight Alzheimer disease.

Anyone can host an Alzheimer Coffee Break, just invite some friends over and encourage donations in return for coffee, tea, snacks, etc.

"Number one would be awareness," said Kathy Fehr about the purpose of the coffee breaks. Fehr is the south central regional coordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba (ASM), and said that donations are the secondary purpose.

"There seems to be a stigma around Alzheimer's disease, around dementia," said Fehr. "The people who are diagnosed with it, they're struggling with it, but as the disease progresses, it's the care givers that will feel the stress. There's so much they need to do and learn [about] how to deal with somebody that has dementia."

Money raised through coffee breaks will go to the ASM which allows the society to offer workshops, support groups, and education at no cost.

For more information or to get involved, visit the ASM website.

Last year, $70,000 was raised across Manitoba during September and October through these events.