See AL.com press release and then read the original below. Thanks, AL.com for getting the word out.
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However, here is the complete article:
EASTERN SHORE WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. At the age of 84, retired nurse Peggy Sagan of Fairhope, Alabama, never imagined that she would be observing the care of her own daughter, Pat. Especially since her daughter had excelled in nursing, pursuing degree after degree to become an instructor and mentor to so many. Peggy didn’t want to believe that Pat had become the victim of early onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 50. However, with no cure in sight, Peggy does what she can. Accompanied by a faithful friend, she makes the weekly trip to Biloxi, Mississippi, to visit Pat, who lives with her husband and two sons. Pat was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 8 years ago and now receives care from not only her husband and family members but also from hospice.
Because of the distance between Fairhope and Biloxi, Peggy can’t help her daughter as often as she’d like. Instead, she volunteers at the Adult Day Respite called Shepherd’s Place, located at the Fairhope Methodist Church. The Director of Caring Ministries of the church, Dr. Ann Pearson, established Shepherd’s Place out of her own experience of caring for her mother, who for seven years lived with Alzheimer’s disease. What started out as a two day a week respite to support caregivers in 2009 has doubled to four days a week, with 35-40 volunteers to help run the program.
The team at Shepherd’s Place is preparing for the upcoming “Eastern Shore Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” which will raise awareness of the growing population of people living with dementia. After all, 93,000 Alabamians are estimated to have Alzheimer’s. Of Americans age 65 and older, 1 in 9 has Alzheimer’s; for those age 85 and older, 1 in 3 has the disease. Another American develops Alzheimer’s disease every 67 seconds. Due to the large number of Americans suffering from this disease, purple is becoming easily recognized as the color to support Alzheimer’s disease.
The Walk is designed to raise funds to further the care, support, and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association. Although there is no registration fee, all walkers must register and are encouraged to make a donation to join the fight against Alzheimer’s. The event will begin at the Fairhope Pier on September 20, 2014. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., the ceremony begins at 8:45 a.m., and is followed by a two-mile walk through Fairhope.
Shepherd’s Place will have a booth set up to display colorful art projects participants have made. Other informative booths representing resources available in our area to families living with Alzheimer’s disease will be featured. Fairhope’s own Andy Luedecke of Synergy Home Care is the force behind the Walk along with many volunteers who are dedicated to make life better for those living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Registered walkers will receive a “promise garden” flower in the color that best represents their connection to the disease. Peggy will be given a yellow flower as she currently supports her daughter, Pat. Ann will have a purple flower as she has lost her mother to the disease. There will be blue flowers for people living with the disease, and Andy will have an orange flower as he supports the cause and a vision of a world without Alzheimer’s.
The Alzheimer’s Association “Eastern Shore Walk To End Alzheimer’s” is promising to be an anticipated annual affair for the entire family. To be a part of this inaugural event, put on your purple attire and join in. Everyone has a reason to end Alzheimer’s.
For more information or to register online, go to act.alz.org.
Written by Alzheimer’s Association advocate, Beth Reinert, of caregiversunite.org.
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