Albany community walks to end Alzheimer’s

ALBANY — Colorful pinwheel flowers danced in the breeze as friends and family hugged and laughed together at the 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer’s here Saturday morning.

About 100 community members gathered at Albany’s Welcome Center under a large inflatable sign that read “Start here to end Alzheimer’s.”

They wore matching shirts with photos of loved ones or phrases of hope and held different flowers — each color a different message: orange for support, yellow for caregivers, purple for those who had lost someone to the disease and blue for those living with it.

Alzheimer’s and dementia are diseases that cause a decline in memory, thinking, behavior and social skills, according to the Mayo Clinic. More than 150,000 people live with Alzheimer’s in Georgia and about 15% of people over the age 65 years old have the disease in Dougherty County, Madison Foglio, a local television news anchor, shared with the crowd Saturday.

The Alzheimer’s Association hosts walks to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

Foglio talked with the crowd about her grandfather, who passed away from the disease. By the time he passed away, she said, he didn’t remember her name.

“It’s destroying families,” Foglio said. “It’s destroying our finances. It’s destroying our futures. I think it’s time to end it. Do we agree?”

Shouts of yes and whistles came from the group in response.

Kemble Teague, a financial advisor for sponsoring group Edward Jones, thanked the crowd for coming to the Walk. Alzheimer’s care is expensive for families, and events like Saturday’s can help relieve some of that financial burden, he said.

Edward Jones has served as a National Presenting Sponsor for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s since 2016. More than 100,000 participants have walked with Edward Jones across 600 different communities since that time. The firm has raised more than $39 million for the fight to end the disease, he said.

The walk was also an opportunity for people to come together and connect over the struggle.

“Whether it’s a financial burden or not, it’s an emotional burden,” Kimble said.

Shonda Bell, a Dougherty County special education teacher, and her husband, Ronald Bell, walk with “Charlie’s Angels,” a group that represents Shonda’s Mother, Charlie Mae Cross, who has lived with Alzheimer’s since 2016. The group, made up of family and friends, has been participating in the Walk since 2019 and has consistently been the top fundraiser.

This year, they raised $6,155, Shonda Bell said. She uses social media to share information about the disease as well as ask for donations.

“It warms my heart seeing everyone out here,” she said. “My hope is to bring more awareness and raise as much money as I can.”

Both her parents are living with Alzheimer’s, which Ronald Bell said can be quite the balancing act trying to care for both. Both Shonda and Ronald work full-time during the day, and return home to more work in caring for Cross.

“It’s a lot, but it’s something that is needed,” he said. “You never know what life is going to bring. You just have to support your loved ones.”

Kike Oladunjoye, a United Health Care nurse practitioner, has attended the walk for the last four years, she said. As a nurse, she said she sees how the disease impacts so many families. She sees how difficult it can be for them.

“I hate the disease,” Oladunjoye said. “I’ve seen a lot of patients. It makes me cry.”

Oladunjoye said she walks for those who can’t — whether it’s those living with Alzheimer’s or the family members who have to stay and care for them. It’s nice to show support.

Twenty-two teams were registered to participate in Saturday’s walk, according to the Association for Alzheimer’s site. They’d raised $18,527 of the $25,000 goal as of Saturday.

The money raised for the Alzheimer’s Association will go to critical services like the 24/7 hotline, Alzheimer’s Association website and education programs, Foglio said.

There’s also progress being made, she said. The FDA announced in July it had approved treatment for early onset Alzheimer’s.

“Please continue the work you are doing,” she said. “It is making a difference.”

Staff Photo: Lucille Lannigan

Staff Photo: Lucille Lannigan

Staff Photo: Lucille Lannigan