Normally I would be talking about a topic that could enhance seniors’ lies or their family’s by providing information to help guide them through the journey of life. This column will be a bit different as my time these last few months has been focused on another task.

 

In September 2010 and 2011, a number of folks from this area participated in the Kitsap Peninsula “Walk To End Alzheimer’s” in Silverdale and Bremerton. After the 2011 Walk, we got together and decided that there should be one on the North Olympic Peninsula (NOP) so more could participate. Well, that started the wheels in motion. In January of this year, several of us met and tossed around the idea of a NOP Walk. We signed on the dotted line with the Alzheimer’s Association and we were off and running. We assembled a steering committee of interested parties from the health care industry and individuals dedicated to the cause. From there it was like a snowball rolling downhill – it gathered momentum and there was no stopping it. Through eight months of meetings, finding sponsors, recruiting teams and walkers, fundraising, and yes – many sleepless nights – we persevered. The culmination of our efforts came to fruition this past Saturday, Sept. 29. It was finally the day of the 2012 NOP “Walk To End Alzheimer’s.”

Why did we walk?
Why did we do this? Why did we spend countless hours dedicated to a one-day event? Why did we have more than one sleepless night and earn a few more gray hairs on our head? Because we are passionate about finding an end to Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is indiscriminate and robs persons of their very being and devastates families. It knows no age, race, gender or economic standing. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and each year is responsible for more deaths than breast and prostate cancer combined and is the only disease in the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. with no way to prevent it, cure it or slow the progression. While death rates for other major diseases such as heart disease, breast and prostate cancers, stroke and HIV have declined in recent years, Alzheimer’s death rate has steadily increased by over 66 percent. About 5.4 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s disease with an estimated care cost of $183 billion in 2011; every 69 seconds, another American will develop Alzheimer’s; over 14.9 million family and friends provided over 17 billion hours of unpaid care to loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other dementias at an economic value of more than $202 billion.

What is the ‘Walk’?
If we don’t stand up and fight today, Alzheimer’s will continue on its upward spiral.
What is the “Walk” about? The Alzheimer’s “Walk To End Alzheimer’s” is the nations largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research and is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide. It unites the entire community – family, friends, co-workers, social groups, businesses, and more – in a display of combined strength and dedication in the fight against this devastating disease.

What we learned

What did we learn from our experience in putting together a “Walk To End Alzheimer’s”? We learned that the NOP community is like no other! The dedication of the steering committee was unlike any other I have participated in. Their focus was single-minded and amazing. The response from the community was overwhelming. The business community responded to our requests with open checkbooks and without hesitation. Organizations and individuals donated their talents for the cause. Families, organizations and individuals signed up and worked their fundraising talents.

 

And then came the time for the actual event. To make life a little easier for all of us, we decided to setup our venue (at the Boys & Girls Club in Sequim) the night before. The number of volunteers that responded to our pleas for help was amazing! We figured it would take three hours to set up – instead we were pretty well done in 1½ hours.

 

The morning of the Walk, again volunteers came pouring in. And the people who came to walk – they just kept coming in droves.

 

A big thank you goes out to the Alzheimer’s Association Western/Central WA Chapter for sending five staff members to help us – including the president and CEO of the Chapter, Bob LeRoy.

Goals exceeded

The Association had given us goals to reach and let me tell you, our committee had their fingers crossed the entire time hoping we could come close. The NOP Walk was asked to recruit 15 teams, 150 walkers and raise $18,470 in donations. Pretty lofty goals for our first time out. What was our end result? Hang on to your hats. More than 230 walkers, 24-plus teams, and we raised a grand total of $24,000. We were overwhelmed and very emotional with the outcome. And the best part – 100 percent of all donations received will go to the Alzheimer’s Association for research, support and education. A huge thank you goes out to the business community which stepped in and covered all of the expenses necessary to put on this Walk. Please support those businesses that helped make this Walk possible. A banner with all of their names is hanging in front of Discovery Memory Care on Washington Street in Sequim.

 

But we’re not done yet. Please continue to support our efforts by donating to the 2012 NOP Walk until the books close on Nov. 15. And then get ready for the 2013 Walk.

 

Thank you NOP community – you truly are one of a kind and the best! The steering committee, the businesses, the volunteers, the participants and the entire community wrapped their arms around this event. For more information, you can e-mail nopalzheimerswalk@yahoo.com or call 461-3402. Like us on Facebook at Alzheimer’s Walk of NOP.

 

Next month I will return to my regular format with some great information about home safety.

 

For more information and resource assistance, e-mail Pam Scott at www.discovery-mc.com or call 683-7047. Contributing correspondent Pam Scott is the community relations director for Discovery Memory Care in Sequim.