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Inspiring Walks to End Alzheimer's in October

Alissa Sauer
By Alissa SauerOctober 29, 2014

The world’s largest fundraising effort to fight Alzheimer’s disease is The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The walks occur in the months leading up to November, which is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.

Learn more about the Walk and how teams from this year’s walks are inspiring and motivating us in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. In preparation for the month, the Alzheimer’s Association hosts over 600 community walks, known as The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s. These walks occur all over the U.S. and raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s support, research and care.

While there is no fee to participate, each team member fundraises to raise not only money, but also awareness in their community. Money raised from the Walk to End Alzheimer’s helps the Alzheimer’s Association reach their goal of eliminating Alzheimer’s while the fundraising aspect raises awareness in each walk location.

In addition, at each walk participants are given the opportunity to learn more about Alzheimer’s and the support offered to people affected by the Alzheimer’s Association. 

Inspiring Teams From Around the Country

Last year, more than 42,000 teams participated in almost 650 walks nationwide and raised more than $55 million in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Read about some of the most inspiring teams, walks, and individuals from 2014. 

1. Oklahoma City, OK: Thousands of people in Oklahoma came out to support their local Alzheimer’s Association chapter in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The crowd included OU football star quarterback Trevor Knight and other OU football players. This year’s walk raised a record amount of $420,000.

2. Brookdale Senior Living: The Alzheimer’s Association highlighted the teams from Brookdale Senior Living for “making a million dollar difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s Disease.” The senior living company raised $1,111,937 for the Alzheimer’s Association. In 2013, their teams raised a combined $800,000.

3. Barbara Cowen: Barbara Cowen is the widow of Jim Cohen who died from a heart attack, but lived with the disease. Barbara raised $1,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. Ms. Cowen and her husband moved into Chelsea Retirement Community before his death and that’s where she learned about the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. She participated in the 1 mile walk on September 27 in her walker.

4. Myrtle Beach, SC: With more than 80,000 people living with Alzheimer’s in South Carolina, it should not be a surprise that Myrtle Beach, SC hosted an extremely successful walk. More than 700 people walked against Alzheimer’s in Myrtle Beach. They raised over $78,000 for Alzheimer’s research. Participants in this particular walk carried flowers and the colors of those flowers held different meanings. A blue flower represented someone living with the disease, a yellow flow was for someone caring for someone who has the disease, a purple flower represented the memory of someone who died with the disease, and an orange flower represented the vision of a world with Alzheimer’s.

5. Columbia, SC: While the 1.5 mile walk would be considered good exercise for most, the local chapter in Columbia, SC decided to add on a world record attempt before their community walk. The community is striving to have the most people doing sit-up simultaneously. In addition to breaking a world record, the local chapter is also attempting to raise $90,700 for the Alzheimer’s Association.

6. A Place For Mom: Our good friends at A Place For Mom formed two teams this year and raised $10,000 for The Alzheimer’s Association. Daily fundraising efforts held in the company’s Seattle office included the sale of pulled-pork sandwiches and root bear float treats. A number of APFM employee families have been personally affected by the disease and the personal connection to the cause gave many employees inspiration to fundraise and walk. 

Did you participate in a Walk to End Alzheimer’s this year? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

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Alissa Sauer
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Alissa Sauer

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