Alzheimer’s Walk to Remember set for October 3

The 17th annual “A Walk to Remember,” presented by the Alzheimer’s Resource Center, will be held Saturday, October 3, at Westgate Park.

A special kickoff luncheon was held Thursday, August 20, at Southeast Alabama Medical Center to announce the walk chair and the schedule of activities for the event.

The walk serves a two-fold purpose. It is the primary fund-raiser for the Alzheimer’s Resource Center and enables this office to serve families in 16 Alabama counties and a portion of the Florida Panhandle. Secondly, the walk is an education tool to inform the public of the dire consequences of this deadly brain disease.

Even though this will mark the 17th year for the walk, Kay Jones, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Resource Center, says the public is still not fully aware of the services provided for Alzheimer families and caregivers.

“We’ve been here so long, but many people still don’t know that we exist,” Ms. Jones said in her opening remarks. “One way we try to get the word out is through the walk.”

The goal for the 2009 walk is $85,000.

For the second year in a row, Angie Casey will serve as the walk chair.

“Angie Casey brought so much energy and excitement to the walk last year,” Ms. Jones said before introducing Ms. Casey for her remarks. “We’ve had wonderful people serve as walk chairs. I’m pleased that Angie Casey agreed to chair the walk again this year.”

Her tenure as walk chair this year will be bittersweet for Ms. Casey.

“On March 10, my mother passed away,” Ms. Casey said as she began her remarks.

“This is so dear to my heart - it’s so difficult on family members. My mother didn’t have Alzheimer’s, but another form of dementia. She was the picture of health. She walked six miles a day. She was the poster child for healthy living.”

In just two short years after she received her diagnosis, Ms. Casey’s mother passed away.

“The most important thing is to get the word out to help the families,” said Ms. Casey.

During her remarks, Ms. Casey cited some grim statistics. She noted it’s estimated that 10 million members of the “baby boomer” generation will develop Alzheimer’s at some point in their lifetime. She also noted that every 71 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s. In June 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that Alzheimer’s disease is now the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and businesses mount to more than $148 billion each year.

At the present time, there is no known cause or cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

But there is help for local families through the Alzheimer’s Resource Center. But the office remains open only through the generosity of the public in participating in “A Walk to Remember.”

All funds raised through the walk remain local to assist Alzheimer families in southeast Alabama.

“The Alzheimer’s Resource Center is here to help,” Ms Casey noted. “I know, because I called Kay Jones many times.

“The walk is not about research. It is about sharing the care.”

Sponsors and teams are needed to help the Alzheimer’s Resource Center reach its goal of $85,000. For more information on how you can help, contact Kay Jones at 702-2273 or 1-888-702-8689. You can also visit the ARC’s website at http://www.wesharethecare.org.