Walk to End Alzheimer’s hosted by Modern Gas in Albany

ALBANY — More than 200 supporters in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease turned out on Saturday for the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, hosted this year by Modern Gas on Dawson Road.

In addition to the Walk event, guests enjoyed a day of live music by Taking Suggestions, Bad Toyz, Cut N Run, Evan Barber and the Dead Gamblers and last but not least … Highway 55, two-time winner of the Georgia County Music Band of the Year.

If the free music wasn’t enough, there was the outstanding pork ribs, cooked up by 19 separate “little guy” grillers in Modern Gas’s 3rd annual Rib Showdown competition for a top prize of $500.

“The contest is more an opportunity for ‘backyard grillers,’” said Mark Holloway president of Modern Gas. “It’s designed for the people don’t really compete in things like the Pig Jig. We limit the size of the grills to 60 inches or less. They can cook with charcoal, gas, pellets … whatever.”

This was the first year Modern has provided use of the nature trail in back of their facilities for the Alzheimer’s fundraiser, and Holloway said it’s been beneficial to all concerned.

“It a great cause,” Holloway said, “and the two events complement each other. In fact, Modern has been looking for just such an organization to which we can provide philanthropic support.”

Speaking early Saturday, Holloway said he planned to surprise the organization with a donation of $4,000.

“It’s an opportunity to give back to the community,” Holloway said.

According to Lindsey Richard with the Alzheimer’s Association, to walk the roughly two-mile nature trail and earn an official T-shirt, participants raise a minimum of $200 each. The walk itself is “symbolic,” Richard said, of the fight against Alzheimer’s and support for the estimated 15 million unpaid caregivers nationwide.

“Many of those stricken with the disease are doing fine,” Richard said. “It’s the caregivers who carry the real weight.”

Richard said the “top” Walker for the event this year was Dan Phillips, who raised more that $2,600 for the cause. The top fundraising team, as of the start of Saturday’s Walk, was Wynfield Park Health and Rehab, with a contribution of $3,457.

Not counting Modern’s donation, Richard said that at the start of the event, a total of $71,225 had been raised, exceeding the goal of $68,000, which had a deadline of Nov. 30.

Many of the walkers carried “pinwheel flowers” of orange, representing supporters of the cause and the vision of a world without Alzheimer’s; purple, for those who participate because they’ve lost someone to Alzheimer’s; yellow, which identifies the holder as someone who is supporting or caring for someone with the disease, or blue, for people who’ve been diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s disease.

Richard said that donations to the Alzheimer’s Association are used to provide care for Alzheimer’s patients, support for caregivers and research to find a cure for the disease.

For addition information on Alzheimer’s Disease and how to donate or find help, go to alz.com.