People gathered from all around Northwest Indiana to support the fight against Alzheimer’s on Sunday afternoon. The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the worlds largest event in the support, care, and fight against Alzheimer's. The Alzheimer’s Association and many teams of supporters who all have a story to tell donated their time and efforts throughout the year to raise money for the organization.
Alzheimer's is the nations sixth leading cause of death. Organizations like these aim to raise money for research and support those with the disease and their caretakers. Held at Hidden Lake Park in Merrillville, the walk invited people to understand the severity of the disease.
The 1 mile walk provided participants the chance to support a great cause that is near to them and meet other who support the organization.
“Alzheimer's disease really hasn't gotten the recognition that it needs to be at. We are still at the early stages of people getting the word out about how important awareness is. Right now, we don't have a cure, we don't even have a treatment, we can only treat symptoms. It is so important, with these events, to raise everyone’s awareness on how important this is,” said Katie Slater, Community Relations Specialist and Event Coordinator.
Teams from all over covered the lawn as hotdogs were being passed around and music filled the field. Whether a team had 4 people, or over 20, everyone was there to support each other or remember someone they lost.
“My Grandma passed away in February but I really lost her 8 years ago from Alzheimer's,” said Alexandra Benton, representing ‘Team Joyce.’ “I feel like it’s not something people pay attention to or think about very often because it’s not that well known of a disease. It is such a great cause and it’s nice to know that the money is going somewhere that can help all these present and future people prevent the loss of their loved ones way before they’ve actually passed.”
Before the walk started, the organization took some time to thank all of the teams and award them for the money they had raised. Everyone was given different colored flower pinwheels at the beginning of the event, and the colors were explained to represent different people that are affected by the disease. Blue represents someone with Alzheimer's or dementia, Purple was for someone who has lost a loved one to the disease, Yellow represents someone who is currently supporting or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, and orange was for everyone who supports the cause and vision of a world without Alzheimer’s. They invited everyone to hold them up together as the wind made them spin in unison.
“We walk for my father and my aunt Gloria. There is not a family that does not know, or has someone that is suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s,” said Terri Ensign, of the team Charlie’s Glorious Angles.