7th annual Southern Crescent Alzheimer’s Memory Walk

It began on September 30, 2000, and tomorrow’s event marks the seventh annual Southern Crescent Alzheimer’s Memory Walk to take place in Peachtree City at the Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater.

The event will be bittersweet for many due to the recent death of the walk’s founder, Floy Farr. Farr’s wife, Bruce Farr, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities, and who is currently at Ashley Glen Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s Care in Peachtree City.

Prior to the first Southern Crescent Walk, Farr and the staff of Ashley Glen traveled to Atlanta to participate in the Atlanta Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk. The early registration time of 7 a.m. made it difficult for many to participate in the annual event. This led Farr to ask the Greater Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association for permission to start an annual walk for those in the Southern Crescent.

The beautiful cart paths found throughout Peachtree City, the city Farr helped found, made for a perfect location for a new memory walk.

The first walk consisted of 61 teams from Clayton, Coweta and Fayette counties. Over 450 people participated in the inaugural event which raised over $73,000. Elaine Gaillard, marketing director at Ashley Glen, and Farr recruited many of their friends and associates to serve on the various committees to organize and conduct the walk.

In 2001 Fred Brown, the former mayor of Peachtree City, and Iola Snow, a retired benefits administrator for Big Star Foods, partnered together to become co-chairpersons for the event, a responsibility they share to this day.

Brown and Snow were no strangers to the work of non-profits; Brown worked with the Heart Association for 12 years while Snow served on the Greater Atlanta March of Dimes Walk America Team Walk Committee for 10 years.

Over the years, the annual Southern Crescent Alzheimer’s Memory Walk has seen steady growth. In 2002 Spalding County joined the walk and in 2003, Henry County followed suit. Last year’s event had over 1,200 participants and raised $173,767 for Alzheimer’s research and programs.

This year, organizers predict at least 1,200 or more participants and hope to raise at least $125,000. “We never set goals for the walk, but we lack a little over $125,000 to hit the $1 million mark so we hope to raise at least that much this year,” said Snow. If the walk does raise over $125,000, organizers, participants and donors will have raised over $1 million dollars in just seven years, quite a feat!

Snow said she predicts Farr’s passing will increase the number of people to participate in this year’s event. “We’ll probably see a greater participation this year. People are more aware of the walk because of Floy’s passing. They will realize that participating in the walk is a way to honor him, and people will want to do that,” she said.

The money raised each year is donated to the Georgia Chapter of the national Alzheimer’s Association which is in turn used for research and also given back to the Southern Crescent community in the form of programs and help given to patients and their caretakers.

Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, new treatments are on the horizon as a result of accelerating insight into the biology of the disease. Research has also shown that effective care and support can improve quality of life for individuals and their caregivers over the course of the disease from diagnosis to the end of life.

This year’s event will feature the Peachtree Jazz Edition band as well as a clown for the kiddies. Several new sponsors will be at this year’s event and will have tables set up prior to the walk.

Participants who have not registered online are asked to come early to register the day of the event. Whether you have registered or not, all members of the community are encouraged to come out to support the event. “If someone wants to participate but doesn’t have the financial resources to donate we want them come out anyway,” said Snow. “Awareness is as important as the money.”

Registration for the event will be held from 8-9:15 a.m., and those registering are encouraged to come out early. Runners will start at 9:15 a.m. and the 3.1 mile walk will begin at 9:30 a.m.

As in past years, World Gym will be at the event to lead a warm-up for walkers at 9:15 a.m.

After the event, participants are encouraged to stay and enjoy a picnic lunch. A drawing will be held after the walk with prizes donated by the community, ranging in value from $50 to $500, being awarded.

This year’s walk will take place at the Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater Saturday, Oct. 7 at 9:30 a.m. For more information visit www.southernmemorywalk.org.

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