The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting Great Bend and other Western Kansas residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by registering for the 2023 Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® in Great Bend. The Walk is Saturday, Oct. 7, at Jack Kilby Square.
Registration begins at 9 a.m., the Promise Garden Ceremony is at 9:30 a.m. and participants will start walking at 10 a.m. Register at act.alz.org/greatbend.
The Promise Garden Ceremony is a poignant part of the morning where all registered walkers will raise their beautiful, colorful pinwheel flowers high in the air to show the reasons they walk:
• Blue - I have Alzheimer’s
• Purple - I have lost someone to Alzheimer’s disease
• Yellow - I am a care partner for someone with Alzheimer’s disease
• Orange - I support the vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia
More than 6.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – 55,000 right here in Kansas. Additionally, more than 89,000 Kansas caregivers are providing unpaid care, valued at more than $1.9 billion, to their loved ones with Alzheimer’s.
A personal challenge
Angela Delgado-Sycz will walk with her family in Great Bend to honor her loved ones she has lost to Alzheimer’s.
“My grandmother passed away with Alzheimer’s and now my father-in-law has been diagnosed. Walk to End Alzheimer’s helps connect our community to the free services that are available to them, and I specifically want the Hispanic community to learn about these services,” said Delgado-Sycz. Her parents own Delgados restaurant in Great Bend, and they have hosted a fundraiser for their Walk team and hope to hold another in the future.
“Getting involved in Walk to End Alzheimer’s is an incredibly rewarding experience, Delgado-Sycz said. “Whether you are supporting the organization or directly benefiting from their services, it is great to help fight the fight.”
The Alzheimer’s Association makes fundraising easy with available tips from Walk staff, motivation from fellow fundraisers and information from Walk committee members to make one’s fundraising experience as smooth as possible. Participating in Walk to End Alzheimer’s is free; However, a $100 fundraising minimum is required to receive the Walk event T-shirt.
To learn more about Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Great Bend, go to act.alz.org/greatbend.
About Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimers is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research, along with a 24-hour helpline, 800-272-3900.
The Central & Western Kansas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association serves 69 counties. Last year, care consultations were provided to 147 families and more than 380 lives were helped through the chapter’s partnerships with community organizations.
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call 800-272-3900.
