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Come Walk with Me: the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk - Page 2

© Brenda S. Parris

Sometimes there is someone reading a poem, or talking about an experience of caregiving. Sometimes there is a musical group. Last year at my local Walk there was a folk music group, and one of the songs they performed was written about Alzheimer's. Some groups have celebrities to entertain, and that is always a treat. For the past three years, our Memory Walk has been held at the Huntsville (Alabama) Botanical Gardens, and walking there has been a treat (Even a couple of years ago when we walked in the rain!) This year it will be at Joe Davis Stadium, and I'm not sure what the entertainment will be, but it is being called a "Family Festival" as well as a Memory Walk, and I know it will be enjoyable as always.

And then there are the prizes everyone has been waiting for. Sometimes there are lots of door prizes that everyone has a chance to win. Always there are prizes for individuals and teams that raise the most money. First through fourth or fifth place, or sometimes even the top ten money-raisers are recognized. I have been in that group in most, if not all, of the Memory Walks that I've participated in. Often there are also items for sale, like the Vivian Remembrance Bear, or the Memory Walk Elephant, and of course the funds from these go to the Alzheimer's Association.

Memory Walks across the country are doing some interesting things this year. In Rockford Illinois on September 28, the Ivory Keys Barry Manilow Fan Club is participating in the Walk events.[2] On that same day in Santa Cruz, California, walkers will be enjoying "... the nation's only beach walk." The entertainment and food provided also sounds inviting: "Although we cannot guarantee dolphins to dance in the ocean alongside of us as they did last year, we will have the Watsonville Taiko to drum us along, Midnight Blue playing on the beach bandstand and Red Malone and his Rascals playing for us at lunch time. Continental breakfast and Seascape lunch provided." [3]

On September 29, the Indianapolis Memory Walk has Hallie Bryant, former Harlem Globetrotter and "Mr. Indiana Basketball" as Honorary Chair. They invite walkers to "Come out to the walk and see Hallie perform in full Globetrotter garb!" [4] In Los Angeles, the 10th Annual Memory Walk will kick off this year's Festival of Health and Fitness. They invite walkers: "Be part of the fight to end Alzheimer's.

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