Each year, millions of people around the country come together for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Today, in conjunction with the annual Be Aware Wellness Fair, Jacksonville is hosting its own satellite walk starting at 10 am.
Jerry Best with Home Instead Senior Care in Jerseyville joined WLDS’ “What’s On Your Mind” program, and explained his hopes of this becoming an annual event.
“It’s our opportunity to show Jacksonville can support a walk like this. Jacksonville is a large enough town to draw these other counties in to have its own walk. So this is the first step in that process of having a satellite walk this year, but we want to make a big showing to encourage employers, service organizations, church groups, families and friends of people who know about Alzheimer’s and are effected by it, to some out here and support this,” says Best.
Best was joined by Lisa Kluge of Heritage Health and Tina Arnold of the Alzheimer’s Association, an organization which offers a number of services.
“This is the only disease in the top ten causes of death that doesn’t have a way to treat, or cure, or affecting slow down the process. So that’s really what we strive for at the Alzheimer’s Association is that next generation, but also trying to help and support the people that are going through it right now,” Arnold says.
Each walker will wear pinwheel flowers of a certain color denoting their reason for participating. Purple flowers indicate having lost someone to Alzheimers, yellow flowers are worn by current caregivers, orange denotes advocacy for the cause, and blue flowers will be worn by those currently suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Those wishing to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s can sign up between 9 and 10 am at Jacksonville’s Community Park. Registration is free, though donations are welcome.