The Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s is being held today, so El Dorado residents should expect to see purple-clad runners and walkers in the downtown area this morning.
The annual walk is the Alzheimer Association’s primary fundraiser, where money raised goes towards research on treating Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Yesterday, Oak Ridge Health and Rehabilitation held a preview event to raise additional funds for the Association. Throughout the afternoon, administrative staff could be found soaking wet after sitting for a dunking booth, and the nursing home’s Director of Nursing, Karen Womack, was slowly immobilized as residents, visitors and staff paid to duct tape her to a door of the facility.
“It’s a good cause,” Womack said. “[I do it] for the residents.”
Residents as well as staff and visitors participated in yesterday’s activities; even those residents who did not try dunking or taping the administrative staff watched with wide smiles from the windows.
“This is our last big event before the Walk,” said Elena Bruewer, director of marketing and admissions at Oak Ridge. Bruewer will participate in the Walk today; according to the Walk’s website, by yesterday afternoon she’d already personally raised more than $250 for the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Since our new unit just opened, we’re trying to get our name out there, trying to promote that,” she continued. “We’re trying to raise awareness, too, that there is help for those people.”
Oak Ridge recently opened the Oak Haven Memory Care Neighborhood, an 18-bed add-on to their facility where those with dementia and Alzheimer’s can receive personalized, specified care.
In Arkansas, approximately 60,000 people have Alzheimer’s, with an estimated 180,000 caring for them without pay, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Seventy-nine percent of funds raised by the Alzheimer’s Association go towards care, support, research, awareness and advocacy for people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia; 15% goes towards fundraising efforts and only 6% is spent on administrative costs.
Today’s walk will begin with registration at 9 a.m. Walkers will meet at the Murphy Arts District, where the two-mile route will begin. Registration is still open today for those interested in participating, and is free.
A ceremony at 10 a.m. will kick off the walk, which is set to start at 10:30. A goal of $35,000 raised for Alzheimer’s Awareness has been set for the South Arkansas Walk; so far, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, we have raised $19,992 locally, with 572 participants, including 63 teams.
There will also be free fun for spectators at the event. The Kid’s Zone will be downtown, as will games and music, per Bethany Moore, program manager with the South Arkansas Center on Aging. Kernal Mustard’s Hotdog Stand will be present as well.
The Alzheimer’s Association has several recommendations for those hoping to combat the potential development of dementia. They suggest not smoking, reading and learning often, regular exercise, using critical thinking skills, staying socially engaged, keeping one’s mental health in check, getting plenty of sleep, eating right and avoiding traumatic brain injuries.
To learn more about the Walk to End Alzhimer’s, visit alz.org/walk. There, one will be able to register for today’s walk. The walk is free to participate in. One can also learn more at South Arkansas – Walk to End Alzheimer’s Facebook page.
Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].