The Alzheimer’s Association’s biggest fundraising walk of the year is coming back to Sparks, inviting everyone to register, donate, and walk in this weekend’s event at the Sparks Marina.
The 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer’s-Northern Nevada is taking place on Saturday, October 8 from 8-11:30 a.m. to bring awareness and raise funds to fight and end Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The flat path goes around the Sparks Marina makes it easy for people of all ages and abilities to walk together in solidarity.
Everyone who is registered will receive a Promise Garden flower in either blue (representing someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia), purple (for those who lost someone to Alzheimer’s), yellow (for caregivers who are supporting someone who lives with the disease), or orange, for those who support the cause and envision a world free of Alzheimer’s and dementia. People who have raised a minimum of $100 in donations will receive an official Walk to End Alzheimer’s T-shirt.
As of Monday, October 3, more than 600 participants had registered and raised $172,835 of its $290,000 goal. The Walk’s top donor is currently Frank Shipman, who has raised $16,015 to help the Association advance Alzheimer’s support, care, and research as well as honor his wife Jeanne.
“This will be my third year fund raising for Alzheimer’s Research. Thanks to all who have helped in the past as we have generated over $38k to date. Not much has changed over the past year as we continue to “Live in the Moment”. Once an event has passed, it is no longer in Jeanne’s memory. We did travel to Durango, Colorado, for a visit with her sisters. And we plan on traveling to Annapolis, Maryland this fall for a weekend sail with our daughter and family,” he states on his “Shippy NV” team page.
Nancy Chontos has raised $4,506 and hopes to reach her goal of $5,000 by Saturday. This is her story:
“Wednesday, September 7, 2022, my mother Helen Soffer passed. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease back in 2011, and I have participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s since then. I am working to raise visibility of this devastating disease as well as to raise funds for research to find a cure… and then a way to prevent it altogether! After participating in the Healthy Nevada program, my DNA showed that I have one of the genetic markers for Alzheimer’s. So, that plus the fact that my mom is dying from the disease increased my risk exponentially. Last year my husband was diagnosed with dementia, so this is so very important to me! I have very personal reasons to find an end for Alzheimer’s.”
More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and more than 11 million people take care of them with no financial support. Seventy-nine percent of the funds raised through the Alzheimer’s Association go towards helping eliminate the disease.
To register for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s- Reno/Sparks event this Saturday, October 8, visit https://act.alz.org/northernnevada or register in person at 300 Howard Drive. Registration opens at 8 a.m., a ceremony begins at 9 a.m., and the Walk starts at 9:30 a.m.
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