Lincoln Walk to end Alzheimer's raises over $7,000

 

[October 01, 2019] 

On September 28, 2019, a bright and sunny Saturday, the second annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s was held at the Oasis Senior Center with around 95 people participating. It was the second year for this event, which is considered part of a larger event in Springfield.

The day’s events began with an opening ceremony and several locals speaking briefly about the reason for the walk.



Master of Ceremonies was Michelle Ramlow. Ramlow used to work with the Alzheimer’s Association and said she still volunteers for the association because she believes strongly in their mission and what they are trying to accomplish. Ramlow’s godmother has Alzheimer’s Disease, so she has seen its effects firsthand.

Ramlow said those participating are part of the world’s largest event fighting the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease affects over five million people around the world and Ramlow said that number includes over 220,000 people from Illinois. One in five people develop the disease. Sixteen million people are unpaid caregivers for someone with Alzheimer’s.

As the prevalence of the disease continues to grow, Ramlow said the cost for care is escalating into hundreds of billions.

Alzheimer’s ultimately can destroy family, finances and your future. So, Ramlow said it is time to put an end to the disease, which is the sixth leading cause of death.

The money raised will help the Alzheimer’s Association provide critical care, support services, online and in person education programs, and work as the leading voice for Alzheimer’s. The association also has a resource rich website.

Ramlow said the Alzheimer’s Association rallies behind a nationwide group of advocates who speak up for the rights of those facing the disease. Ultimately, the end of Alzheimer’s will come through research, and money raised helps the association fund promising studies in the field.

The Alzheimer’s Association has invested over $435 million in more than 2,900 scientific studies. Ramlow said it is leading the way for global progress.

One sign on the walking track said the Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s largest non-profit funder of Alzheimer’s research.



After Ramlow’s opening remarks, John Guzzardo, one of the largest local sponsors, prayed for the event and all those working together with care, love and understanding to fight the disease.

Guzzardo thanked everyone for coming and said his father-in-law started showing signs of the disease at age 80 and by age 86, moved into the Alzheimer’s Unit at the nursing home. Visiting his father-in-law each day, Guzzardo knew the end was drawing nearer, but even at the end, Guzzardo said his father-in-law would smile when he prayed.

Alzheimer’s affects not only the individuals who have it, but also their family and friends. Guzzardo said we can rejoice that we will be reunited in heaven with those we have lost to the disease. He thanked everyone for both the financial support and love, understanding and relationships with those who have Alzheimer’s, and told people to keep giving so we can find a cure for this disease.

Because many still do not know about all the work being done to end Alzheimer’s, Ramlow asked everyone to help get the word out and bring a friend, family and coworkers next year. She then introduced event coordinator Julie Bobell.



Bobell said Jean Bobell, her husband’s grandmother had Alzheimer’s, so the family has a personal connection to the disease. By coming together, Bobell said she believes we can and will end the disease.

She thanked local sponsors Edward Jones, Guzzardo’s, St. Clara’s Manor, Copper Creek and Generations. Edward Jones generously sponsors every walk nationally.

The committee planned the event for months and Bobell thanked them and everyone that worked hard to put it together. Committee members included Nancy Cunningham, Janelle Woolard, Julie King, Paul Boatman, Leigh Mosher, Deb Maaks, Michelle Haruff and Julie Williamson.

Top fundraisers were Maggie McDole with $2,166, and Mary’s Team, led by Paul Boatman with $1,900.



Sharing a personal story of being a caregiver, Paul Boatman said his wife Mary passed away just over a year ago after almost 10 years of living with Alzheimer’s disease. Just three years before her diagnosis, he lost his father Russell, who had the disease for 16 years. Alzheimer’s dominated Boatman’s life for nearly a quarter of a century.

Recently, Boatman enrolled in a trial study for people who are considered vulnerable to the disease, but do not have it.

Boatman then performed “To All the Thoughts I’ve Had Before,” a song he and his wife wrote from her perspective and set to the tune of “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.”

Mary’s Song
With apologies to Willie and Julio

To all the thoughts I’ve thought before,
I can’t recall them anymore.
They may be right or wrong
So I'll just sing this song
Of all the thoughts I’ve thought before

I can’t remember . . . what’s your name?
And every day is just the same
I’m often so confused
I fear I’ll be abused
And I don’t know if I’m to blame

Well they say I’ve got dementia,
That my future’s getting dark
I suspect they may have sent ya,
Perhaps some memory you’ll spark.

I want you to remember me,
No matter how my mind may be
I want to have your love
as sent from God above
So please don’t throw away the key.

I don’t know what comes tomorrow,
Will I know the ones who care?
Will I share your joy and sorrow?
Or respond with that blank stare?

My memory’s like a closing door,
But please don’t think me sad or poor.
We shared a blessed life
As husband and as wife,
We’ve shared the thoughts I’ve thought before.
 

Dr. Boatman also prayed for those walking through the process of both grieving and loving, and for strength, patience, tolerance and aggressive love for those supporting someone living with the disease. Boatman’s prayer closed thanking God for all those who are supporting the cause and asked a blessing on the event.

Symbolic silk flowers were handed out to participants with orange representing support to end Alzheimer’s, purple representing someone who has lost a family member to the disease, yellow representing someone who is a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s and blue representing someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.



Barb Kindred, Dorothy Bernal, Shelly Cheek, and Hettie Younger were called up to the stage area and people were asked to raise the various colored flowers in support.

A white flower is a symbol of Alzheimer’s first survivor, and Ramlow said since there has not been a first survivor yet, it is appropriate that there were no white flowers. She hopes one day, there will be a whole “field” full of these flowers representing survivors of the disease.



To help participants warm up for the walk, Janell Woolard led everyone in some Zumba moves. Woolard said dancing is great for the brain because its helps your brain constantly think and can even ward off Alzheimer’s. She said her job at the walk was to get spirits up by getting people moving because they were there not in sorrow, but to fight the disease.

As Zumba finished, a large group of Lincoln College athletes arrived after running from ALMH to the Oasis to lend their support and lead the way around the track.

The walk itself was kicked off with a ribbon cutting led by the Lincoln Daily News ribbon cutting crew. LDN’s own Nila Smith said besides raising funds, the event is a time for good fellowship and sharing stories.



After John Guzzardo cut the ribbon, everyone walked several laps around the track behind the Oasis.

Once the event had ended, Oasis director Nancy Cunningham said she estimated about $7,000 was raised by the walk and that giving can be done through December. She said this event has brought more awareness of Alzheimer’s.

As Ramlow said, Alzheimer’s will not back down, and neither should we.

Website link for the Alzheimer’s Association: alz.org

[Angela Reiners]