Hundreds of people walk for Alzheimer's disease in Aiken | New



[ad_1]

A group of women and girls walked on the runway at the H. Odell Weeks Activity Center on a hot Saturday morning in honor of their mother and grandmother, Mildred H. Key, who died of Alzheimer's last September .

She did not say anything bad about anyone, she was a good Christian lady and a beautiful person, and she was able to remember her and help raise money for looking to make sure that it did not happen to anyone that's why they came out.

"It's hard to watch a family member degrade in front of their eyes, as they did," said daughter-in-law Ann Glover Key.

Mildred's family accompanied approximately 450 people to raise funds for Alzheimer's disease as part of the Walk to Eliminate Alzheimer's in Aiken.

Taylor Wilson, of the Aiken Walking Committee, said the fundraising goal was about $ 75,000 for the day and that fundraising would take place in November.

She added that the funds went to care, educational workshops, a 24-hour hotline and research.

3




Alzheimer's Walk Aiken 2018 77.JPG

The purple flowers were worn by those who lost someone because of Alzheimer's disease.


"There are a lot of very generous people in the community who have a connection to the disease," she said. That's why walking has so much impact in Aiken.

Leslie Addison is the Chair of the Aiken Committee. She joined the team early because she was working with geriatric patients at the Aurora Pavilion of Aiken Regional Medical Centers. In the second year of his term on the committee, his grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

"That's why I stayed on the committee because my grandfather ended up dying of the disease," she said.

The 2018 march is the 10th year in Aiken. Participants wore purple, orange, blue or yellow flowers as they walked. Purple they have lost someone because of Alzheimer 's disease; orange if they support the cause of the Alzheimer's Association; blue if they live with Alzheimer's disease; and yellow if they are caring for a person with the disease. Many people have carried several flowers.

Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon presented a proclamation before the march, calling October 6, 2018 "Walk for the End of Alzheimer's Day" in Aiken.

Addison said that she now has a year-old daughter and that she does not want her to suffer the devastating effects of the disease when she gets older.

"There are so many people in our community affected by this disease, by their grandparents, by their neighbors, by members of their church, and this is the only disease among the major killer diseases that can not to be cured, and I think It is important to raise awareness and raise funds so that we can find a cure, "she said.

Lindsey Hodges is Senior Policy Officer at Aiken Standard and North Augusta Star. Follow her on Twitter at @ LindseyNHodges.

[ad_2]
Source link