Alzheimer walk nears goal of $85,000

The need for help and information continues to grow.

As the Wiregrass population ages, Kay Jones realizes more and more people need the services provided by the Alzheimer’s Resource Center. As the center’s executive director, Ms. Jones has daily contact with individuals seeking answers to heart-breaking questions. The materials and information provided by the Alzheimer’s Resource Center come free of charge. They are paid for through the generosity of the Wiregrass community. The primary way those funds are raised is through the annual “A Walk to Remember,” which is held the first Saturday in October. The goal for the 2009 walk was $85,000. Ms. Jones says that goal is within sight.

“Right now, we’re close,” Ms. Jones said. “It’s not too late for members of the community to make a donation toward this year’s walk. These funds will be put to good use to help families throughout the Wiregrass.”

The need for services has nearly doubled in the space of one year. ARC records show that 8,536 families contacted the agency since last year’s walk.

“As more people in the area find out about us, we’re receiving more calls, more emails and more visits to our Web site,” Ms. Jones continued. “I don’t need the numbers to tell me more families are being affected by this devastating disease. I can tell from the way our walk continues to grow each year that more people are being touched by Alzheimer’s disease. During this year’s opening ceremonies, as I looked out at the crowd, I realized how the number of participants continues to grow. That growth shows how Alzheimer’s disease affects more and more people each year. It also shows that people are more willing to ask for help.”

In previous years, Ms. Jones says the crowd estimates have been between 700 to 800 participants. That total exceeded a thousand this year as more teams participated in what turned out to be an ideal autumn day.

“We could not have asked for a better day,” Ms. Jones said. “The weather was perfect. The crowd was enthusiastic. It was a wonderful, heart-warming event.”

Ms. Jones, whose mother suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for many years, says one facet of the walk touches her deeply.

“What really impressed me is the fact that caregivers keep coming to the walk even after their loved one has died,” Ms. Jones said. “That means a lot to me. I’ve said many times that the walk is like a community-wide support group. These caregivers are showing their support for families now facing this disease. And the community members who come are showing their respect and love for families facing this difficult time in their lives.”

The opening ceremonies provided a time for those in attendance to reflect on how their lives have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease. The ceremonies were marked by three emotional events.

“As (walk chair) Angie Casey reed the Alzheimer prayer, many in attendance wiped tears from their eyes,” Ms. Jones said. “That prayer touches the heart.

“When Angie finished the prayer, there were four balloons, with the number 8,536 on them, released toward heaven. That number signifies the number of families helped last year.

“As the balloons were released, Bob Hill did a beautiful job playing ‘Amazing Grace’ on the bagpipe. It was a perfect ending to the opening ceremonies.”

Donations to the Alzheimer’s Resource Center can be made by sending a check to P.O. Box 1170, Dothan, AL 36302.

For more information about the services provided by the Alzheimer’s Resource Center, contact Kay Jones at 702-2273 or 1-888-702-8689. She can be reached by email at . Or you can visit the ARC Web site at http://www.wesharethecare.org.