More than 500 take part in Walk to End Alzheimer’s
More than 500 area residents participated in this year’s Syracuse Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, participants walked as individuals and small groups on sidewalks, tracks and trails across Central New York, raising more than $126,500 to date for the care, support and research programs of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“We missed coming together with all of our friends and supporters from across the region this year,” said Catherine James, chief executive officer for the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter. “Knowing that our walkers still donned their purple and took to their sidewalks, streets and neighborhoods to fight for an end to Alzheimer’s speaks to their commitment and passion for our cause.”
Walkers took part in an online opening ceremony hosted by Heather Daley from 92.1 FM The Wolf before using a smartphone app to measure their progress on Walk day. After wrapping up their activity, walkers were able to drive through a view-only Promise Garden at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse. The 2020 Alzheimer’s Association, Walk to End Alzheimer’s—Syracuse, NY was sponsored by Loretto, Senior Home Care & Alzheimer’s Solutions, McHarrie Pointe Assisted Living, Elderwood, Kinney Drugs Foundation, Nascentia Health, Peregrine Senior Living, Teamsters Local 317 and NewsChannel 9.
Casey Baker of Skaneateles was the top individual fundraiser for the second consecutive year at $4,025. Baker walks in memory of his mother, Rita, who lost her battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The corporate team from Loretto was the top fundraising team at $9,614. Donations for Walk to End Alzheimer’s can be submitted through December 31.
The health and safety of our staff, volunteers and event participants was our primary driver in our decision to move Walk to End Alzheimer’s from a large, in-person gathering to a socially-distanced event where walkers plan their own walk route. The online opening ceremony can be viewed at alz.org/walk.
More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 16 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In New York alone, there are more than 410,000 people living with the disease and nearly 1.1 million caregivers.
The 2020 Syracuse Walk to End Alzheimer’s is one of five fundraising walks sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter. Its final walk of the fall is Oct. 4 in Utica. The Chapter previously held events in Watertown (Sept. 12), Ithaca/Cortland (Sept. 13) and Binghamton (Sept. 26). Register and donate at alz.org/walk.
