Walk to End Alzheimer’s raises money for research and awareness
The Alzheimer’s Association hosted the Walk to End Alzheimer’s event at Hodgetown Stadium in downtown Amarillo Saturday morning to raise money for Alzheimer’s research and awareness.
As part of a worldwide effort to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research, the Amarillo chapter held its event at the stadium with Mayor Pro Tem Freda Powell presenting the city of Amarillo’s proclamation to former Amarillo Mayor and co-chair for the event Debra McCartt.
“This is a great event today that the city is honored to be a part of. We want to do our part by being a great supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and we too hope that one day there will be a cure so that people throughout our country do not have to face this disease,” Powell said.
Ameka Mobley, walk manager for the Amarillo Alzheimer’s Association, spoke about the importance of the walk in raising money for awareness and support. She said this is one of 600 walks across the nation that are being done through November to fundraise for Alzheimer’s research, and she is grateful for the community support here. The event is the largest fundraiser campaign for Alzheimer's every year.
“We have had a banner year this year with sponsorships and fundraising; I think people are starting to realize that resources are here in the Panhandle to support families that are affected by Alzheimer’s,“ Mobley said.
Mobley said that about half of Americans are affected in some way by Alzheimer’s disease.
“This is not just an old person’s disease and affects people of all ages; the perception that only old people get Alzheimer’s is a misperception,” Mobley said. “It is happening to younger and younger people. We as a community need the people involved so they can see the effect on Amarillo that this disease has.”
Mobley said that last year's event raised about $140,000 for the association, and she expects about the same amount at this year’s event.
“The majority of our money goes to research with some going to family support,” Mobley said.
As the walk began, a high school marching band led the way out of Hodgetown Stadium, with many marchers carrying flowers and signs for their loved ones.
Marchers carry flowers representing how their lives are touched by the devastating disease, which is the leading cause of death for one out of six people in this country:
Carrying a purple flower means you lost someone to Alzheimer’s.
Carrying a yellow flower means you are a caregiver to someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Carrying a blue flower means you are living with Alzheimer’s.
Carrying an orange flower means you support the Alzheimer’s Association.
White flowers were introduced recently when news was positive that there might be ways to prevent or slow the disease.
Christy Bertolino, co-chair of the West Texas Alzheimer’s Association, spoke about how she got involved with the organization due to her dad being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his fifties.
"Since that time, I have engulfed myself into every aspect of Alzheimer’s awareness and raising funds to treat the issue,” Bertolino said. “We appreciate all of the support we have today and its all about awareness.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Walk to End Alzheimer’s raises money for research and awareness
