Lenawee County Walk to End Alzheimer's Sunday at ProMedica Hickman Hospital

ADRIAN — There will be a new location this year for Lenawee County residents to show their support of finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

The annual Lenawee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter, will take place on the campus of ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital in Adrian Township, 5640 N. Adrian Highway.

The walk starts at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, and is open to the public. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. with a ceremony scheduled for 12:45 p.m. There is no registration fee, however, every participant is asked to make a personal donation and commit to raising funds in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research, a news release from the Alzheimer’s Association said. In Michigan, the event takes place in more than 20 locations across the state in September and October. Neighboring Monroe County will have its annual walk Oct. 7. Washtenaw County will walk Oct. 8, Jackson County will be Oct. 14 and a walk in Toledo is also scheduled for Oct. 14.

“We encourage people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to help us take the first step toward a world without Alzheimer’s by joining us for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” Jennifer Lepard, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter said in the news release. “More than 6 million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, and it is estimated that, this year alone, the disease will cost the country $345 billion. This event helps us provide care and support for the more than 190,000 Michiganders affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and helps us to fund important research to end this terrible disease.”

In 2022, Lenawee County raised more than $70,000 to address Alzheimer’s and dementia care, support and critical research, the release said. Last fall’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s brought out nearly 300 participants.

There are 36 teams and 261 participants registered to walk in Sunday’s event. A fundraising goal of $80,000 has been set for Lenawee County, and thus far, that goal is 65% achieved with $51,929 raised as of Thursday afternoon, according to online records.

The Lenawee County Department on Aging has been promoting a “Memories Matter” raffle to coincide with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s with winners receiving two tickets to the Oct. 14 college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Indiana Hoosiers in Ann Arbor. The package also comes with an Igloo brand cooler and other accessories, all valued at $550.

A second raffle drawing will be a tailgating package which includes a Blackstone grill and grill accessories, folding table and grilling gift certificates, valued at $300. This drawing and the U-M football tickets drawing will be conducted during Sunday’s walk. Ticketholders do not need to be present to win. Raffle tickets are available at the Lenawee County Department on Aging office in the Human Services Building, 1040 S. Winter St. in Adrian, or at any of the senior centers around the county.

The annual event creates hope and community for those affected by memory loss diseases and their loved ones, the release said.

“I witnessed the journey of this disease and the effect it has on those in our community,” said Tammy Jewell, co-chair of the Lenawee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s. “Working in an adult day care, a nursing home and as a group facilitator for the Alzheimer’s Association, it is heartbreaking to watch individuals lose their ability to complete daily tasks, forget their loved ones and even be unable to recognize themselves.”

“We must continue to support those currently living with Alzheimer’s and their families,” added Samantha Miller, co-chair of Lenawee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s. “By our fundraising efforts, the Alzheimer’s Association can provide support and research. I truly believe with the advance in research, the first survivor of Alzheimer’s is out there and might even reside in Lenawee County.”

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Local sponsors of Lenawee County’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s include Gaslight Village Assisted Living, Cambrian Memory Care and Assisted Living, WellWise Services Area Agency on Aging, Lenawee Medical Care Facility and Lenawee County Department on Aging.

Edward Jones is the national presenting sponsor of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

To register, donate and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s visit tinyurl.com/Lenawee-Walk. To learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association, visit www.alz.org or call 800-272-3900.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Lenawee's Walk to End Alzheimer's Oct. 1 at Hickman Hospital