Patients, caregivers, loved ones and supportive citizens all took great strides, literally, Sunday afternoon towards one day finding a cure to Alzheimer’s Disease.
The 2021 Emporia Walk to End Alzheimer’s was held on the Lyon County Fairgrounds and saw a great turnout of support from both local and area residents. In addition to honoring the battles and memories of those affected by the disease, the annual walk also pays tribute to the millions of unpaid caregivers, often family members, who stand by and care for those living with the disease.
This includes Pat Myrick, the wife of local Alzheimer’s patient Neil Myrick, who says the disease not only takes a toll on the individual living with it, but those who care for and love them as well.
The fundraising goal for this year’s walk was $19,000 and while totals are still pending at this time, it was announced prior to the walk that just $9,000 was needed to reach that goal. Organizer Stacy Shultz says all funds raised Sunday are going to support the work and resources provided to patients and their families by the Alzheimer’s Association.
Prior to the walk, participants met on the Fairgrounds Anderson Building Patio for the annual promise garden ceremony where individuals held up specific colored flowers representing their personal connections to Alzheimer’s Disease. Blue flowers were carried by individuals currently living with the disease, purple flowers signified the loss of a loved one to Alzheimer’s or dementia, yellow flowers represented those who are currently caring for an Alzheimer’s patient and orange flowers identified individuals who support the idea of world without Alzheimer’s.
A special white flower was also displayed during the ceremony that stood as a symbol of hope that there will one day be a cure for Alzheimer’s and all dementia.
In addition to those who came out to support the cause by walking the Fairgrounds walking trail, the event also had support from several national and local sponsors including:
*Edward Jones (national sponsor)
*CVS (national sponsor)
*Sunflower Care Homes
*Presbyterian Manor
*Holiday Resorts
*Flint Hills Technical College
Additionally, the Emporia State University Lifestyle Empowerment for Alzheimer’s Prevention (LEAP) program was onsite offering support and motivation to walkers as well as information on how healthier lifestyles can help reduce an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
For more information on Alzheimer’s and how you can get involved in the fight for a cure visit act.ALZ.org.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
