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Walk helps fund Alzheimer's education, programs |
| BL » News » Walk helps fund Alzheimer's education, programs |
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September 21, 2003 |
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This article by Mary Sell was reprinted with permission from the Sept. 21, 2003, edition of the Palladium-Item in Richmond, Ind.
About 300 people hit the streets Saturday morning to raise more than $29,000 in the Alzheimer's Association Second Annual Memory Walk. Some were walking with coworkers and some were pushing strollers or leading their dogs, but everyone's goal was the same -- raise money to educate people about Alzheimer's disease and supply programs for those affected by the disease.
Vickie Courtner, a co-chair for the walk, said the goal was to raise $30,000 for education and program funding for Wayne, Fayette, Union, Randolph, Henry and Rush counties.
"You don't meet anybody now days that hasn't been affected by Alzheimer's," Courtner said. Courtner works for Beverly Healthcare, one of the event's sponsors. The Beverly team was the largest money raiser, with $4,136.05.
Courtner said when a family loses someone to Alzheimer's, it is a doubly tragic experience because of the memory loss. "It's like they lose somebody twice," she said. "There's a death with that diagnosis."
Cathy Witte was walking with Adult Day Care of Richmond, also one of the sponsors. The Adult Day Care team raised $3,530.40, the second highest amount collected. "We know that the money will really benefit folks in the community," Witte said about why she was walking.
Adult Day Care of Richmond, located in the First English Lutheran Church, has a support group for families affected by Alzheimer's on the third Wednesday of every month. Witte said family relationships change when someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She said the amount of care someone needs increases tremendously. "It's like a parent-child reversal," Witte said.
The walk began at McBride Stadium and participants had two options, a one-mile walk or a three-mile walk. Andrea Haswell of Centerville pushed her 19-month-old son in a stroller during the walk. She said she was walking in honor of her great-great-aunt, who has Alzheimer's.
"It's kind of nice to remember her and do something for her," Haswell said. When the walk started at 10 a.m., organizers had already collected $29,000. Charity Bishop, of the Alzheimer's Association, said this is the second of nine such walks throughout the state. Last weekend about $340,000 was raised in Indianapolis.
After the hourlong walk the participants, about 300, up from about 200 last year, enjoyed live music and food.
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