The Walk to End Alzheimer's returns to Southern Maryland this fall with a notable change: for the first time, participants from across the region will gather at a single location. Combining the Charles County and Solomons Walks, the event will be rebranded as Walk to End Alzheimer's Southern Maryland and will take place at La Plata Town Hall on Saturday, September 21.
Volunteer leaders and top team captains from both walks have expressed enthusiastic support for the merger, seeing it as a step towards creating a stronger, more unified effort in the fight against Alzheimer's. Sonja Hall Mahoney, Founder, Administrator, and Senior Advisor of LHG Global, Intl., Inc., and a chair of the 2024 Walk, shared her excitement about the change. "We are thrilled that all three Southern Maryland counties are merging in this dynamic effort to end Alzheimer's," said Mahoney. "With this disease affecting so many of our loved ones, whether family, friends, colleagues, or clients, we invite you to come walk with us and be a part of this monumental movement."
Since 1998, Asbury Solomons has hosted the Walk to End Alzheimer's on its campus. Dennis Poremski, the community's Director of Wellness, voiced his support for the new unified event. "I am so proud to continue to share in the commitment of Asbury Solomons in supporting the Alzheimer's Association and the Walk to End Alzheimer's," said Poremski. "We will not stop fighting until we've reached the goal of a world without Alzheimer's."
The combined walk has also garnered support from sponsors such as Constellation Energy / Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, which is contributing $5,000. Beth Bodine, a principal administrator with the company, emphasized the significance of the event. "Our team is excited and appreciates the opportunity to participate in the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer's Southern Maryland," said Bodine. "It is our passion to be part of this event to help end Alzheimer's disease and bring awareness to our community. Each year continues to be special and something I look forward to."
Teams that have participated in the separate walks are already signing up for the newly combined event. The Care Blairs, a team comprised of sisters Betsy Blair, Susan Dudley, Terrie Harney, and their mother Marian Blair, have been walking in honor of their father and husband, Matt Blair, since 2003. "I walk for my Dad. I miss him every day," said team captain Betsy Blair. "I walk to honor him and to bring attention to this disease and hopefully diminish the toll it may take on future generations."
The Southern Maryland Boot Scooters, led by Leslie Harvey, have raised over $200,000 through fundraising efforts since they began participating nine years ago. Harvey, whose team is known for its annual benefit dance and designer purse bingo, said, "Many of our team members have family, friends, and neighbors who have been affected by Alzheimer's, a disease that took the life of my mother, brother, two aunts, and my grandmother. Our team is 'Scootin' our Boots to find a Cure!'"
The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support, and research. The event features the Promise Garden ceremony, where participants hold flowers representing their personal connection to the disease: blue for those living with Alzheimer's or another dementia, purple for those who have lost someone to the disease, yellow for caregivers, and orange for those who support the cause and the vision of a world without Alzheimer's and other dementia.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, nearly 7 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's, including over 127,000 in Maryland. More than 11 million Americans, including 247,000 in Maryland, provide unpaid care to someone living with Alzheimer's. Nationally, these caregivers provide an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid care, valued at nearly $350 billion.
"We are excited to bring together two long-established Walk to End Alzheimer's events as one united Southern Maryland Walk," said Kate Rooper, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association National Capital Area Chapter. "We're looking forward to seeing familiar faces that return each year and welcoming new teams and participants, as families and friends come together for this annual fundraising and awareness event. We hope that everyone in the community will be inspired to join us both at the Walk and in our vision of a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia."
The Walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration, followed by the ceremony at 9:30 a.m., and the Walk itself. Participation is free, though participants are encouraged to raise funds. For more information and to register, visit alz.org/ncawalks or contact Walk Manager Sonya Amartey at samartey@alz.org.
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