Wednesday, September 6, 2000

Memory Walk coming Sept. 30

By JANET McGREGOR
jmac_snippets@hotmail.com

More than 70 local businesses, organizations and groups have already committed to forming teams for the upcoming Alzheimer's 2000 Memory Walk in Peachtree City. The walk will be the first of its kind for the South Metro area and will include teams from Fayette, Coweta and Clayton counties.

Floy Farr, whose wife has Alzheimer's disease, is the visionary behind the walk. He and Elaine Gaillard, marketing director at Ashley Glen, had walked in The Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk held in Atlanta a number of times. While Gaillard was a strong supporter of the walk, having to get up and drive to Atlanta for a 7 a.m. walk was not one of her favorite things.

During the last walk, Gaillard mentioned to Farr that she wished the walk would start later. Farr suggested that Fayette County should have its own walk and thus began the collaboration that has led to the first walk for the Southside area.
Since the first meeting in January, the number of contributors, sponsors, walkers and team leaders has grown beyond the pair's expectations.

The Memory Walk is the largest fund raiser for the Alzheimer's Association. This will be the 9th year the association has hosted a walk in Atlanta. Last year Athens hosted its own walk.

This year the Southside group became only the second to host one separately from the main group. Already they have raised more money than Athens did during their entire fundraiser.

The Atlanta Memory Walk will be held Sept. 23, seven days after the Athens walk and seven days before the Southside walk. The Sept. 30 walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City.

The five-kilometer or 3.1-mile walk will wind along the cart paths to culminate back at the Amphitheater. The Peachtree City Running Club is considering the possibility of holding a run which would start prior to the walk.

There is no registration fee to walk; however, those participating are asked to assist in raising money to support research and other programs sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association.

Walkers who collect a minimum of $50 will receive an official Memory Walk T-shirt. Those raising $200 also receive a baseball cap. Other incentive awards for raising varying amounts include a canvas bag, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a windbreaker.

Sponsors and team captains are still being sought for the Walk. Those interested in forming a team can call Iola Snow at 770-486- 6991. For sponsorship and other walk information contact Elaine Gaillard at 770-631-0205.

About Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, and the most common form of dementia.

Approximately 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's Disease.

More than 120,000 Georgians have been diagnosed, including 52,000 in the Atlanta area.

Unless a cure or prevention is found, 14 million Americans will have Alzheimer's by the middle of the 21st century. This year, 400,000 more of us will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's..

One in 10 persons over 65 years of age and nearly half of those over 85 have the disease.

A person with Alzheimer's will live an average of eight years and as many as 20 or more from the outset of symptoms.

Our country spends at least $100 billion a year on Alzheimer's. Neither Medicare nor most private health insurance covers the long-term care most patients need.

More than 7 of 10 people with Alzheimer's live at home. Almost 75 percent of the home care is provided by family and friends. The remainder is "paid" care that costs an average of $12,500 per year. Families pay almost all of that out-of-pocket.

Half of all nursing home residents suffer from Alzheimer's or a related disorder.

The average cost for nursing home care is $42,000 per year but can exceed $70,000 per year in some areas of the country.

Alzheimer's 2000 Memory Walk
When: Saturday, September 30
Registration: 7:00 a.m.
Walk Starts: 8:30 a.m.
Where: Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater, Peachtree City
Route: 5 k (3.1 miles) on cart paths
Funds Raised from the Walk will be used for:
Research and find causes, cures, treatments and prevention of Alzheimer's disease
Counseling to families and caregivers
Education and support programs to Alzheimer's patients, their families and caregivers
Public education programs, seminars and workshops for caregivers, health professionals and lending libraries
Safe return programs for Alzheimer's patients
A 24-Hour Helpline program

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