- April 19, 2024
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The Walk to End Alzheimer's supporters participated in a little exercise before going out for their two-mile walk.
These flowers are given out in four different colors with different meanings.
Robin Sullivan carries on her parents' memory with this picture she takes around at Alzheimer's events. Photos by Jeff Dawsey
Hundreds of Flagler County residents assembled for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s two-mile walk on Saturday, Sept. 24, at Veterans Park.
As the pre-walk ceremony took place, tears flooded the gathering, as many family members, friends and caregivers mourned the loss of their loved ones. Those in attendance included County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin and Flagler Beach City Commissioner Jane Mealy, who have known people affected by the disease.
McLaughlin spoke of a former business partner who is currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He and his wife often relieve their friend’s wife of caregiver duties by spending time with him.
“At his favorite restaurant Wendy’s the other day, he said to me, ‘I know you, don’t I?’” McLaughlin said. “I said, ‘Yes.’ And I was able to communicate with him all the memories we’ve shared together.”
Although it’s been 16 years since her father died from Alzheimer’s, an emotional Mealy spoke of the difficulty of watching him digress in his later years. She delighted in mentioning how science was catching up to the disease and longed for the day where someone could survive from Alzheimer’s.
Robin Sullivan also gave a heartfelt speech about her parents who both suffered and died from Alzheimer’s. After her mother had taken care of her father, she too was diagnosed.
“To watch both of my loving, good Christian parents lose their dignity, lose moments and forget who we were was very hard,” she said. “I applaud everyone who have cared for or are caring for people with Alzheimer’s.”
This year the Alzheimer’s Association’s Central and North Florida Chapter are seeking to raise over $80,000 in Flagler County for community programs and research in and around the area to help families and their loved ones manage through the illness, and it has currently raised $53,730.
“The money we raise through these walks goes to important research - which is our fastest way to treatment and cure - and free support services the Association provides to our community in Flagler Beach and the greater Flagler County area,” said Kay Redington, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, Central and North Florida Chapter
For more information, contact Amanda Garcia at 904-281-9077 or [email protected].
Alzheimer’s facts
Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S., and it is the only in the Top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed. There are more than 15.9 million caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the country. In 2015, these caregivers provided an estimated 18.1 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $221.3 billion.
