- April 18, 2024
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by: Samantha Logue
Deborah Ronson, real estate agent with Better Homes and Garden Real Estate, and Melissa Wos, leaves and accommodations manager for Apple, have joined the Alzheimer’s Association as the event co-chairs for the 2021 Walk to End Alzheimer’s for Flagler and St. Johns counties.
“My commitment to the Alzheimer’s Association, as well as the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, began several years ago as a result of the families I worked with as a director in the many aspects of the senior living environment,” said Ronson, who previously worked in the senior living industry. “There was not a day that passed without my seeing the heartache of the families that were impacted by this horrific disease. It was then that I knew I had to become involved in the fight to find a cure as well as assist in supporting those families.”
Likewise, for Wos, it was her personal connection to the disease that led to her involvement in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
“I agreed to become a Walk to End Alzheimer’s co-chairperson because I have been a caregiver and an advocate for over eight years,” Wos said. “Alzheimer’s runs on both sides of my family, and my mother, who lives with myself and my wife, is in the end stages of Alzheimer’s. I will not stop fighting to find a cure for this disease until we have our first survivor on stage waving that white flower.”
Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs. Each year, the event kicks off with a Promise Garden Ceremony where participants raise different colored flowers to show their support for those living with Alzheimer’s. While last year’s event was mainly virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alzheimer’s Association is moving forward with plans to host the event in person this fall.
“The health and safety of participants, volunteers and staff remain the Association’s top priorities while continuing to monitor the pandemic and make decisions about event details in local communities,” said Amanda Harris, director of the Flagler and St. Johns Walk to End Alzheimer’s. “While we are planning to gather in person, we will continue to offer options to participate in Walk to End Alzheimer’s online and in neighborhoods across the country.”
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.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s for Flagler and St. Johns counties is set for Oct. 2. To register and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit alz.org/walk.
