Walk to End Alzheimer’s to raise research money, awarenessDate: 9/11/2019 HOLYOKE – A walk dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s Disease will soon take place at Holyoke Community College.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a walk held around the country in 600 different communities across the United States to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer's care, support, and research.
The walk, which will take place on Sept. 15, has a goal of raising $248,000, according to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s website. As of Sept. 8, $121,861 had been raised, 133 teams, and 470 participants were registered for the walk.
Kristen Buoniconti, Outreach Specialist for the West Springfield Council on Aging told Reminder Publishing, this year for the first time, the West Springfield Council on Aging has a team participating in the walk. As of Sept. 8, the team had raised the third highest amount of money out of the 133 teams with an amount of $2,260.
The team isn’t just participating in the walk, however. Buoniconti said, “We’ve been raising money all over town specifically just selling purple flowers, to local businesses, schools, people at the senior center.”
East Longmeadow based home care agency, Right at Home, is also participating in the walk, but has a different role than the West Springfield Council on Aging.
Alzheimer’s expert and Right at Home owner, Jose Cid, participates in the walk both by walking the day of the event, acting as a sponsor, and serving as part of the planning committee.
Cid said the home health aids that work for Right at Home have a “large number of clients that have and are dealing with Alzheimer’s” and “caregivers see how it impacts them and their families.”
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Cid said, include a “cognitive decline” in both long-term and short-term memory and a “functional decline” in one’s ability to complete every-day activities.
“There are therapies available, however all the medications that are available ultimately slow the rate of decline, but there’s still a decline,” he said.
While there is no cure at the time, Cid said with time and money, it could be possible to find one someday. “In order for a cure to be possible, lots of time and money needs to be invested into research.”
Until that day comes, Cid and his company are working to provide individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer’s, which includes having a visible presence at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
“For us, it’s a good combination of showing support the day of, but also establishing connections with families that may need home care,” he said. “Once you get to the point of diagnosis it’s really important to understand and capitalize all the resources available to you
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