The annual Ukrainian Alzheimer's Awareness Dinner was held last night at the Active Living Centre in Carman. Co-coordinator Bob Kowalchuk explains he began putting on the dinner 15 years ago after his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

"I decided to honour my mom [and] her Ukrainian culture and spread awareness about Alzheimer's, raise some money for Alzheimer's. I decided to put on a Ukrainian dinner. First couple of years about 85 people [came], we were sold out, and the event, every year after that, just kept growing and growing."

The dinner was put on annually for 12 years, with the final one being held the year after the passing of Kowalchuk's mother. However, the dinner was brought back this year after a three-year break. The Portage Vesna Dancers provided some entertainment at last night's dinner and dance instructor Helene Lucko notes it's always nice to show community support.

"We very much appreciate being invited to participate in a very worthwhile function, the Alzheimer's society is great. We've tried to come out here a couple of times in the past, we got blown out by a blizzard once and a rain storm another time so third time's the charm. Crowd was fabulous, it gives the kids an opportunity to get up in front of an audience and show off their dances."

Vesna dancer Greyson Marchinko has been dancing with the group for five years and shares his thoughts on last night's performance.

"It was pretty good. I was stressed because I'm going to forget the duet, I always do, I have bad memory. But then I actually did pretty good, I didn't forget anything."

He adds he enjoyed performing at the dinner.