It only takes two words – Alzheimer’s disease – to stop life in its tracks. Every 68 seconds someone in America develops the currently cureless disease. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is not a normal part of aging, although the greatest risk factor is age.
Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia – a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.
Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic and is now the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death. As baby boomers age, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s will rapidly escalate, increasing beyond today’s estimated 5.4 million Americans living with the disease.
With more than 280,000 Pennsylvanian’s living with Alzheimer’s, there has never been a greater need for the citizens of South Central Pennsylvania to join in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease by participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s is more than just a walk by over 1,700 local people; it’s a reflection of their unique journey and experiences with Alzheimer’s and their commitment to end the disease. Our walkers drive our mission and their reasons for walking fuel our efforts to reach our vision: a world without Alzheimer’s.
Why We Walk …
As a walker for Alz-About-It, Harrisburg WTEA, I walk for the families that have experienced Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, and for those who have yet to hear those words associated with a loved one. Each step is a commitment to fulfill the promise to remember, honor, care and fight Alzheimer’s.
Others have their own reasons for walking.
— “I was just diagnosed, at age 52, with early onset Alzheimer’s,” said Mary Read, Mary’s Early Onset Alzheimer Fighters, Lancaster WTEA. “I was a nurse and lost my job. I have been laughed at, yelled at and called stupid because of Alzheimer’s. We need to spread awareness and raise funds to conquer this battle of Alzheimer’s.”
— “I am walking for my father who has this terrible disease,” said Jennifer Schultheiss, Family Pride, Harrisburg WTEA. “He takes meds to slow it down, but that is all it will do. Seeing him slowly lose his memory kills me as much as it does him. We need to find something that will stop this disease.”
— “We are walking this year in honor of Grandfather George W. Jones who passed away from Alzheimer’s disease,” Jordyn Elby, Poppy’s Crew, York WTEA. “As a family we were unaware of Alzheimer’s and how it affected the body. He battled this disease for many years- pulling our family closer together. We are walking in remembrance and honor of our grandfather. We want less people to lose their loved ones.”
Why Will You Walk?
By participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s you are leading the way! Together, we can raise awareness and funds to enhance Alzheimer’s care and support and advance research.
Please join us at one of our local Walks: Sept. 8 at Harrisburg’s City Island; Sept. 15 at York’s Cousler Park or Sept. 22 at Lancaster’s Long’s Park. For more information on your local Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit alz.org/walk or contact Tiffani Chambers at 717-561-5020 or tchambers@alz.org.
Tiffani Chambers is a Constituent Relations Manager at Alzheimer’s Association.
