Difficult Weather No Match for Alzheimer’s Walkers

For the full story on the South Shore Walk to End Alzhiemer’s in the Old Colony Memorial newspaper, click here.

On Saturday, October 1, over 2,000 people attended the annual South Shore Walk to End Alzheimer’s Program at Pilgrim Memorial State Park. 

Preliminary numbers indicate that the event raised over $200,000, and that number is expected to increase as team captains and walkers continue to raise funds through the month of October. The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research.

This was the first year that the walk was held in Pilgrim Memorial State Park.

“In previous years, the walk was held at the Pilgrim Plantation, which worked well for a smaller group of people. But walk participation has grown so much, the new location at Pilgrim Memorial State Park was perfect, ” said Raquel Mullaney, Co-Founder of the South Shore Walk and owner of Comfort Keepers of South Shore, Metro West and Cape Cod.

Raquel, who co-founded the Alzheimer’s walk with David Banks, became involved with Alzheimer’s awareness after her own grandfather died from the disease. This year, Raquel was a team captain and led a team of nine in the walk.

There were 40 event sponsors with exhibitor booths at the event, including Comfort Keepers. At the Comfort Keepers booth, caregivers and staff shared information about in-home care and care for people with Alzheimer’s.

One of the most special and moving parts of the event was the flowers. Walk participants carried pinwheel flowers in different colors, representing the different ways they have been affected by Alzheimer’s:

• Yellow = caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s
• Purple = lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s
• Blue = suffering from Alzheimer’s

At the pre-walk program earlier that morning, there were children’s activities, music, line dancing and opportunities to visit exhibitors in the Exhibitor Tents and to speak with staff from the Alzheimer’s Association at the Alzheimer’s Association pavilion. 

The opening program also included a time for people in the different categories to raise their flowers.

“It was a really visual way to show how many people are affected by the disease. It was especially moving to see a handful of people at the event holding blue flowers, which means that they have Alzheimer’s,” said Raquel.

Alzheimer’s Facts from the Alzheimer’s Association:

• Alzheimer’s is the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death
• 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s

Raquel encourages everyone to become a part of the walk, raising funds and awareness for Alzheimer's care, support and research.

“When you get involved in something like this, you never know whose life you’re going to touch,” said Raquel.

For more information about how to be involved with Alzheimer’s awareness, visit www.alz.org/walk

For more information about caring for people with Alzheimer’s visit: www.comfortkeepers.com/southeast-ma

Photo Credit: Valerie Balch