Hundreds impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia come out for Walk to End Alzheimer’s
On Saturday, Dec. 2, hundreds impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia came out for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s Lee County at Florida SouthWestern State College. Participants gathered to honor those living and lost to a disease impacting one in eight Florida seniors.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease impacting memory, thinking and behavior. The greatest known risk factor is increasing age however it is not a normal part of aging. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia and worsens over time.
Friends Amanda Turner and Anja Kellenberger walked together for women in their lives impacted by the disease. Kellenberger walked for her mother living with Alzheimer’s and Turner walked for her mother-in-law who passed with it. Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.
George Allen and Lee Belanger walked holding blue flowers, signifying they are living with Alzheimer’s. Both walked with their spouses and care partners in support of all those facing the disease. In Lee County alone, more than 26,000 are estimated to be living with some form of dementia.
In total, more than 80 teams and 500 individuals raised $110,000 for care, support and research initiatives through the Alzheimer’s Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter. Funds are critical in helping families impacted by the disease and raising awareness on the signs of Alzheimer’s and how to get an accurate diagnosis.
Research funding has led to new advancements in Alzheimer’s care. In July, the FDA approved the second treatment that has been shown to slow the progression of the disease. The treatments are only effective in the early stages of Alzheimer’s making early diagnosis critical.
With only $10,000 remaining to hit their $120,000 goal, residents can still donate to the Walk at alz.org/LeeCountyWalk. Walk to End Alzheimer’s was locally supported by presenting sponsor Vitas Healthcare.
Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s Association®
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call 800-272-3900.