image_pdfimage_print

Alzheimer’s Association planning return to in-person event

The Alzheimer’s Association is invitingTreasure Coast residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’son Saturday, Oct. 30.

While last year’s event was mainly virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alzheimer’s Association is moving forward with hosting this year’s event in person. Treasure Coast Walk to End Alzheimer’s Director Toni Abraham noted that the health and safety of participants, staff and volunteers remain the Association’s top priorities, however.

“All events will implement safety protocols, including physical distancing, masks where required, contactless registration, hand sanitizing stations and more,” Abraham said. “We will also be offering options to participate online and in local neighborhoods and will continue to closely monitor CDC, state and local guidelines to ensure events adhere to recommendations and are safe for attendees.”

Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. On Walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony – a mission-focused experience that signifies their solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers represent participants’ connections to Alzheimer’s disease and their personal reasons for walking.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Florida alone, there are more than 580,000 people living with the disease and 527,000 caregivers. 

John Cotugno, event co-chair of the Treasure Coast Walk to End Alzheimer’s, lost his mother-in-law to Alzheimer’s disease and knows firsthand the toll that dementia caregiving can take on one’s family members.

“Stress does not even begin to describe what we went through as a family,” Cotugno shared. “My mother-in-law’s dementia progressed quickly and she soon needed full-time care. Luckily, a caring facility in Hobe Sound was located and, of course, her number one caregiver was my wife’s stepfather. He visited her daily; he never missed one day.”

Following his mother-in-law’s death, Cotugno and his wife became involved with the Alzheimer’s Association in the hopes of helping others facing the same challenges.

“Our desire is to raise awareness, advocate for the family caregivers, support training requirements for staff providing care for dementia patients, and fund the research necessary to find a treatment and cure for this horrible disease,” Cotugno said.

The Treasure Coast Walk to End Alzheimer’s will kick off with an Opening Ceremony at 9 a.m. on Oct. 30 at Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach. To register and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit alz.org/walk.

Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.  

Alzheimer’s Association®

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia – by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.