Home » Health & Wellness » Alzheimer's Disease » Come Walk with Me: the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk

Come Walk with Me: the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk

© Brenda S. Parris

Once a year, as the weather begins to cool down in the fall, thousands of people gather in more than 400 communities across the U.S. to participate in a Memory Walk. This is the major fund-raising event of the Alzheimer's Association. The money raised at this event funds help lines, support groups, and educational events in the local community as well as nationwide support, education, and research. It is also an opportunity to do something in memory of or in honor of the person in our families with Alzheimer's. It is an exciting time of the year for many of us, and as the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk site says it "... allows people with the disease, their families, and their friends-and those who wish to support those affected in their local community-to celebrate all the successes and strides being made in Alzheimer's disease in a fun, joyful, and party-like atmosphere." [1]

And what a party it is! If the walk is in the morning, usually breakfast is served-bagels, sweet rolls, or sausage biscuits. Some Memory Walks even serve up a pancake breakfast to walkers. There are booths where information about Alzheimer's, the local chapter, and other area sources of caregiver education and support can be found. Often these booths give away free water bottles, buttons, pens, and other items. Last year, just a couple of weeks after 911, at my Memory Walk, people were giving away small American flags and patriotic buttons, and I suspect they will again this year, as it will be just four days after the anniversary of that tragic event.

Then before the Walk begins, there are the warm up exercises, sometimes led by a local TV news personality, or by a local fitness expert, and this is often accompanied by some upbeat music. Excitement builds as the Walk begins, sometimes with a ribbon cutting, sometimes with music, and often with applause. All along the way, Alzheimer's Association volunteers are cheering walkers on and offering water or soft drinks to the thirsty. It isn't a long walk-often just three miles, or sometimes there is a choice between three or five miles. Talking with fellow walkers passes the time, and the Walk is always over sooner than I expect. And what a reception at the finish line! One year there were even bagpipes! There are always cheers from volunteers, and we are led to picnic tables where there is always plenty of food-pizza, fried chicken, sandwiches, chips, cookies, ice cream, and soft drinks. We feast on the goodies and talk until time for the entertainment and award presentations.