Indianapolis, Indiana – The annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s attracted a large crowd to downtown Indianapolis on Saturday.
This year, the Greater Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association hopes to raise $1 million, which would be a new high in Indianapolis. The organization raised more than $800,000 from the Walk last year, placing it 14th nationwide.
The group claims that as of Saturday morning, it has already raised more than $900,000.
The occasion on Saturday was held at Carroll Stadium, home of IUPUI, in downtown Indianapolis. Participants gathered for a “Promise Garden” ceremony prior to the Walk. Participants display flowers of various hues as a tribute to people who have been impacted by the disease.
A blue flower, according to the group, signifies that the person is now coping with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia. Caretakers for Alzheimer’s and dementia are symbolized by yellow flowers. According to the organizers, those carrying purple flowers had lost a loved one to the illness. Supporters of the Alzheimer Association’s goal of eradicating the illness are represented with orange flowers.
Many attendees have personal connections to the event, notably the organizers.
“In January of 2020, my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s,” ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬said Community Engagement Chair Mark McFatridge. “The interesting thing is we had seen signs coming, but honestly didn’t know what the 10 signs of awareness were to help identify Alzheimer’s. Had we known that I think we could have done a really much better job of putting her in a position to be successful and maybe even slowing the process of the disease.”
Like many others, McFatridge was inspired to join the group so that she might aid countless others. Money is raised during the Walk itself for support, care, and research. “The fundraising is great, but the awareness is even more important,” he said.
Emily Wilson also suffered a loss due to the illness. Wilson’s mother received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2017, and she passed away in 2021. “She was diagnosed after masking it for quite a while,” Emily Wilson, who is the Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. “She tried to hold on as long as she could. When she was diagnosed in 2017, she had already progressed a fair amount. So at that point, we were two peas in a pod. I was her only caregiver and we struggled through this disease for four years until she passed away last year.”
Wilson emphasized the value of support, which is precisely why she claimed that individuals who know someone with cancer can benefit much from the Walk. “It’s really hard to do this alone,” she said. “It’s overwhelming both for those living with the disease and for those who are helping them through that.”
Approximately 2,300 individuals signed up for the event. Participants helped with fundraising, with Brian Eagle’s team coming in first with the most donations. The Eagle squad collected $50,000. “We are on a quest to help the Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s research raise the white flower, which represents the first survivor of Alzheimer’s,” Eagle said.
The occasion on Saturday comes after a significant advancement in dementia research. Biogen recently revealed that medication in clinical trials delayed cognitive decline by 27%.
Although it is not a cure, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, “it might mean more time, and just as crucial, more quality time.” Although the FDA has not yet approved the therapy, the Alzheimer’s Association is optimistic and believes it to be a sign of advancement. “That just gives a little bit of extra hope as we gather this morning and continue to raise funds for more research,” said Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter Executive Director Natalie Sutton.
