Causes on the calendar: Local organizations hosting various awareness events Saturday
Several different community organizations are inviting the Amarillo and Texas Panhandle area to fight for a cause this Saturday and have fun while raising awareness. Included below is a list of a few of the local nonprofit events being held Saturday, each deserving of your participation.
Walk to End Alzheimer's
The Alzheimer’s Association invites local residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in its annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s Saturday in the Hodgetown stadium, with gates opening at 9 a.m. and the opening ceremony at 10 a.m. The walk begins at 10:30 a.m.
"We are now at over 1,000 walkers raising awareness; our mission is to unite the Texas Panhandle in the fight to end Alzheimer's. This is a very difficult disease, and people tend to isolate and handle it on their own as their loved one begins to move through the stages of Alzheimer's. We want the opposite. We want them to know that there are people in the community that have gone before them, and that these resources are invaluable to help them navigate through the disease," said Ameka Mobley, senior walk manager for the Alzheimer’s Association.
On walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony, where attendees will receive a flower with a color representing each individual's connection to Alzheimer’s and their personal reasons to end the disease. The ceremony will be followed by the walk around the stadium to spread awareness of the disease and raise funds to find a cure.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with dementias. In Texas alone, there are more than 400,000 people living with the disease and 1,085,000 caregivers.
"At the end of the walk, we ask everyone to plant their flower in our garden as a representation for Alzheimer's in Amarillo, and that isn't event the beginning of the true representation but it's symbolic. ... I want people to know that there is no cost to walk. This is donation based, but this is not about giving. It is about being an advocate, standing up to this disease, saying it's affecting my family and connecting with others," Mobley said.
Individuals who would like to participate in the walk can register beforehand or in person the day of. For more information, visit alz.org/walk.
Buddy Walk
The Panhandle Down Syndrome Guild (PDSG) will host its 21st annual Buddy Walk to spread advocacy, education and awareness for individuals with Down Syndrome. Check in will open at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the 1/2 mile walk around Sam Houston Park taking place 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
After the walk, attendees are encouraged to enjoy Las Vegas-themed fun, including free food, music, face painting, bouncers, slides, a silent auction, a petting zoo hosted by the Highland Park ISD FFA program, and much more. Public service heroes will be in attendance with their equipment for individuals to explore, including a fire department truck, bomb squad equipment, police cruiser, and ambulances.
Attendees are encouraged to attend the walk in their best Elvis attire as a part of the Las Vegas theme, in celebration of the walk's 21st anniversary. Those dressed to impress in their blue suede shoes will receive a prize, while supplies last.
According to PDSG, the Buddy Walk was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society and has become the premier advocacy event for Down Syndrome in the world. It has grown from 17 walks in 1995 to more than 250 walks planned for 2022 worldwide. PDSG has been hosting the walk in Amarillo since 2002.
For more information or to make a donation, visit PDSG online at https://www.ds-stride.org/panhandledsgbuddywalk?fbclid=IwAR001Ec7-oh48nZh0HEurfpFDK1JEpBcxcr2mHw90BzLfiGIhK9ohtknzOg
The Great Epilepsy Steakout
The Epilepsy Foundation Texas (EFTX) invites the community to attend its fundraiser, "The Great Epilepsy Steakout," to be held Saturday from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at the Grand Plaza in the Amarillo Civic Center.
Doors will open at 6 p.m., with a steak dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Afterward, attendees will be invited to participate in festivities including a live and silent auction, music, dancing, and a casino.
According to the EFTX, the foundation helps individuals fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives. The organization offers a range of programs and services for people living with epilepsy including children, teens, and families.
Proceeds raised from the Steakout will benefit individuals across the state of Texas suffering from epilepsy. For more information, visit EFTX online at https://www.eftx.org/epilepsy-foundation-texas/
Tickets to attend the Steakout begin at $60 and can be purchased online at https://give.eftx.org/event/the-amarillo-great-epilepsy-steakout-2022/e403362
Sister-Bear Shoot
Amarillo non-profit Sister-Bear Foundation will host its 4th Annual Sister-Bear Shoot from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday at River Breaks Ranch, 7802 Durrett Dr.
The festivities begin with a Sporting Clay Shoot. All shooters from beginners to experts are invited to participate and compete for the coveted Sister-Bear Shoot belt buckles while supporting a worthy cause.
During the event, shooters will have to opportunity to improve their shooting score by purchasing mulligans, Sister-Bear logoed merchandise, or raffle tickets for the chance to win a Sugar Weasel. Kobe’s Grill food truck will also be on hand, providing lunch before the shoot at noon.
After the shootout, attendees are invited to join the event's afterparty beginning at 5 p.m. with a happy hour and open bar, barbecue dinner, and live entertainment featuring Nelson McKinney.
Attendees can also enjoy River Breaks Ranch’s famous horseraces for a chance at great prizes, including Beer for a Year donated by Budweiser of Amarillo; a live auction, which includes two miniature doodle puppies, diamond earrings from Barnes Jewelry, custom CITY boots, his and hers Glocks, an African Safari, and a week-long vacation in Southern France.
"This is our fourth shootout fundraiser. The Sister-Bear Foundation became a non-profit in 2021, and we have hosted two a year since. I just love how it has grown over the years; last year, we had over 240 people in attendance. It's just a fun night for a good cause, and this year's auction will definitely include some real treasures," said Amy Juba, board member of the Sister-Bear Foundation.
According to Juba, the foundation also looks forward to setting a record with the venue for the total number of shooting teams in attendance.
"All proceeds will go towards our grant program. Everyone is invited to join us. We encourage the community to come help us support our neighbors who struggle with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy or other conditions affecting individuals' quality of life," Juba said.
The silent auction can also be accessed online by visiting bit.ly/sisterbearauction22.
The fee for individual shooters is $300, and a team of four shooters is $1200. Sugar Weasels can be purchased before the shoot at bit.ly/sisterbearauction22 or during check-in. Party tickets are available for $75 per person and are available online at https://events.handbid.com/auctions/sister-bear-shoot-2022/tickets
Our Colors Run Together
The Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation (HCHF) will host its Our Colors Run Together 5K and 1 mile fun Run/ Walk to celebrate, remember, and honor all those affected by a cancer diagnosis. The event will be hosted in the Amarillo College's Amarillo Museum of Art parking lot, located at 2201 S. Washington St., lot #5. The competitive run will begin at 9 a.m., with the non-competitive portion to start at 10 a.m.
During the run, a special area will be reserved for cancer survivors, including activities. After the run, food, music and a kid’s area will be provided for attendees to enjoy.
Proceeds from this event will benefit local cancer survivors from the day of diagnosis, and future cancer patient assistance, cancer prevention and survivorship.
Registration to attend the run is closed online as of Sept. 21, but attendees can still register to participate in the fun run/walk in person Saturday beginning at 8 a.m., or Friday at the packet pick-up, located on the second floor of the Amarillo National Bank Plaza II at 500 S. Taylor St., from 2 to 6 p.m.
For more information or to make a donation to the HCHF, visit them online at https://hchfamarillo.org/ .
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Other Saturday events on the schedule (subject to change) include the annual Iwo Jima Flag Run at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, benefitting veterans and Wounded Warriors; the fifth annual River Falls Fly-In and Car Show at River Falls Airport; “Stamp Out Stigma” hosted by Texas Panhandle Suicide Prevention Coalition, a 5K run 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Thompson Park, with a resource fair, food, trucks, community connection, and children's activities; and Junior League of Amarillo's Best of Texas 2022 concert at Starlight Ranch.
"For more than 90 years, Junior League of Amarillo has been the driving force behind the kinds of initiatives and institutions that make our community a healthier, more vital place to live," the JLA website reads. "(JLA) is an organization of woman committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers." For more information on the concert, visit https://www.jlamarillo.org/2022-best-of-texas/ .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Causes on the calendar: local non-profits hosting events Saturday
