Memory Walk
Take steps to end Alzheimer's at the Memory Walk
WESTFIELD Take steps to end Alzheimer's at the Pioneer Valley Memory Walk on Oct. 1.
Join Honorary Chair Art Ford for the 3-mile, 1.5-mile and .5-mile walks, which begin and end at Stanley Park in Westfield.
Registration and pre-walk party start at 9 a.m. Walk starts at 11 a.m. There will be a children's activities area. Outback Steakhouse barbecue begins at noon. Bill Eagen will be performing in the morning, Your No Good Buddies will perform during lunch, and Cold Stone Creamery will provide ice cream after lunch. 22 News, KIX 97.9, MIX 93.1 and Healthcare News of Western Massachusetts are media sponsors of the event.
This year, Memory Walk participants in Massachusetts have set a goal of $1.25 million in walk pledges. The funds raised go to provide programs and support for those affected by the disease in Massachusetts.
Some of the programs funded by Memory Walk include:
Helpline Experienced Helpline counselors assist people by telephone and online with all aspects of Alzheimer's disease-from getting a diagnosis to finding support and services in the community. Helpline is available 24/7.
Safe Return The emergency Safe Return program operates 24 hours a day to assist in locating people with Alzheimer's who have wandered and become lost.
Support Groups Alzheimer's support groups are sensitive and helpful resources.
Advocacy The Alzheimer's Association advocates at the local, state and federal level to promote quality community and long term care.
Patient Programs Educational seminars and support groups assist individuals in the early stages of memory loss to cope with and manage the disease.
Care Consultation Experienced counselors work with families facing challenges in managing the disease.
Family Education The latest information on research, the importance of diagnosis and treatment, legal issues, care planning and safety issues is offered at numerous locations across the state.
More than 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, including 140,000 in Massachusetts. These numbers will grow dramatically in the coming years as the baby boom generation ages. Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease of the brain for which there is no known cure. One in 10 people over 65, and nearly half of those over age 85 have Alzheimer's disease. People with the disease live from three to 20 years after the onset of symptoms, making programs such as those offered by the Alzheimer's Association all that more important.
"It is time for us to truly recognize the importance of making Alzheimer's a national priority before it explodes into a national crisis," said Congressman Edward Markey, Statewide Honorary Chair. "By 2010, it is projected that 5.1 million Americans will have Alzheimer's. This staggering number can be prevented if we increase funding for research and find a cure before it is too late."
The Alzheimer's Association, the world leader in Alzheimer's disease research and support, is a voluntary health organization dedicated to finding preventions, treatments and eventually a cure. The organization's mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
National sponsors for Memory Walk are Genworth Financial, Creative Memories and Kindred Healthcare. Statewide sponsors include Beacon Hospice, Genesis HealthCare, Beverly Health Care, Benchmark Assisted Living, Kindred Healthcare, Atria Senior Living and Sunrise Senior Living. Statewide in-kind sponsors include Polar Beverages and The Clarks Companies.
For more information about Alzheimer's disease, and how to walk in or volunteer for the Pioneer Valley Memory Walk, call Annie Clattenburg at (413) 787-1113 or annie.clattenburg@alz.org.
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