First Lincoln Alzheimer's Walk heightens awareness
Support includes LC runners

 

[October 01, 2018] 

The cold dreary weather did not keep people away from Saturday’s Alzheimer’s Walk held at the Oasis Senior Center, which brought out around 100 people.

Michelle Ramlow, who works with the Alzheimer’s Association in Springfield, opened the day’s activities by welcoming everyone to the event. Ramlow said there are staff available 24 hours per day, seven days a week for those dealing with Alzheimer’s related issues such as a family member who has wandered out or is having behavior issues.

Ramlow said help comes through research and many trial studies. She told everyone “Alzheimer’s is not going to back down and neither should we.”

Ramlow said the event’s committee members were Julie Bobell, Julie King, Paul Boatman, Nancy Cunningham and Leigh Mosher.

When asked about the decision to hold an Alzheimer’s Awareness Walk in Lincoln, Boatman said the Walk to End Alzheimer’s came about because it is a nationwide movement.

Boatman said that in Logan County, there are over 600 people who have Alzheimer's Disease [and] about 2000 people who are involved in caregiving for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. About one person in 12 in our county is directly impacted by Alzheimer's. No other disease cuts such a wide swath.”

Boatman said, “Since we have numerous people facing the disease in our county, we decided to petition the Alzheimer's Association to sponsor a walk here. Technically, our walk is a satellite walk for the Springfield Walk, which took place last Saturday. We hope in the future to sponsor a free-standing walk.”

Boatman said, “The walk is a fundraiser for research aimed at defeating Alzheimer's Disease, but it does much more than that. It raises awareness of the disease and its impact. It provides an opportunity for people who want to "do something" to join together in support of those who are struggling with the disease.”

Boatman shared his personal story of dealing with his wife’s Alzheimer’s for almost ten years before she died a month ago. Boatman said, “We faced challenges, took road trips and sometimes got lost, but we had a great partnership and lots of support.” He then sang “To All the Thoughts I’ve Had Before,” a song with lyrics written by him and his wife and set to the tune of “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.”

Ramlow had people come up to the stage holding “spinning flowers” in different colors to represent their role in dealing with Alzheimer’s. The orange flower held by Julie Bobell highlighted the reason for people who support the cause. The purple flower held by Paul Boatman represented those who have lost someone with Alzheimer’s disease. The yellow flower held by Renee represents caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s. The blue flower held by Mark Boatman represented people living with a diagnosis of dementia.

Ramlow said they are one day hoping the first survivor can hold a white flower. She said, “we won’t back down. Together we can fight the disease.”

Before the walk got underway, Janell Woolard led participants in Zumba to warm them up.

Boatman said, “The walk is in many ways symbolic.” The walk covered the paved one-sixth-mile walking trail behind Oasis Seniors Center on Woodlawn Road and some walked around the trail several times. Others cheered them on from the sidelines.

Some teams represented people who were not present, and others walked in honor of, or in memory, of a specific Alzheimer's sufferer. Several people came to the ‘walk’ just to celebrate a friend or relative who has valiantly fought the disease.

Approximately 50 Lincoln College athletes ran all the way from the college to join in the walk, taking several laps around the track.

Cunningham said there were teams from the Christian Village, St. Clara’s Manor, Castle Manor, the Oasis Senior Center, Copper Creek, Safe Haven Hospice, and Carelink.

Business sponsors who supported the cause helped make the event possible. Boatman said, “Guzzardo's Italian Villa was our first corporate sponsor. Culver's enabled an Alzheimer's Walk fundraiser this week.” The committee was thankful for all the support.

Elaine Knight, who was helping participants get registered, said she got connected through volunteering at the Oasis. Knight said she has lost some family members due to stroke related dementia, so the cause is important to her.

Cunningham said as of Saturday, almost $7,500 in support had been raised. They are hoping the amount reaches at least $10,000.   Donations to the cause will be accepted through December 31, 2018 and donations of all sizes are welcome.

[Angela Reiners]