Walk to End Alzheimer’s
The Alzheimer’s Association is bringing their Walk to End Alzheimer’s® to downtown Marshfield this year.
The 2016 Walk to End Alzheimer’s® for the Marshfield Area, which represents Marshfield, Colby, Stratford, Abbottsford, Neillsville, Spencer, Stratford, Stetsonville & Unity will kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 17 from the Holiday Inn, 750 S. Central Ave.
Walk organizers are hoping to increase awareness of Alzheimer’s by using the walk to paint the town purple, which is the color that represents Alzheimer’s.
“The association and our walk committee recognized that our event was growing and understood the impact that walking down Central Avenue would have on our walk for this year and future walks. The move allows us to handle more walkers safely and gives us great visibility within the community,” said Alzheimer’s Association Development Director Sarah Seeger.
“Downtown businesses have been encouraged to paint their business purple on September 17th! There will be purple ribbons, signs and more lining the walk route. Local businesses can form teams to walk or even volunteer that day,” Seeger said.
Main Street Marshfield is happy to welcome the walk to downtown.
“I think having the walk go through the downtown will help create awareness for their cause as well because this is a very visible area. The walkers will be seen by many and the more purple they can showcase, the bigger the impact, and more awareness they bring to end Alzheimer’s,” said Main Street Marshfield Executive Director Angela Eloranta.
She is excited by the collaboration between the two groups.
“We love the fact that they are doing this event in the downtown area. It is always a positive when we can increase the foot traffic downtown,” she said.
Alzheimer’s is a condition that is very prevalent not only nationwide, but in our own community. According the Alzheimer’s Association, 1 in 3 seniors dies of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
That is why organizers say working toward awareness and earning money for research is so important.
“Alzheimer’s awareness is important because Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in Wisconsin. It is the only disease in the top ten that has no cure, no way to slow it down and no way to prevent it,” Seeger said.
One of the benefits of participating is that the funds stay local.
“We are thrilled to host our walk downtown Marshfield. The funds that are raised from this event stay local to help provide programs FREE of charge, help oversee care and support groups and provide access to a 24/7 helpline that’s staffed by clinicians. Together, we will end Alzheimer’s disease,” she said.
Anyone can participate in the event, which offers both a one mile and three mile option.
So far, the local Walk to End Alzheimer’s® has earned over $15,000 of the overall goal of $56,000 and has 24 teams signed up. For more information on how to create your own team, join a current team, register, or donate to the cause, visit www.tinyurl.com/walkwi or call 920-469-2110.
2016 Walk to End Alzheimer’s® –Marshfield Area
DATE: Saturday, September 17, 2016
TIME: 9:00 a.m. –Registration
10:00 a.m. –Ceremony with Walk to follow
WHERE: Marshfield Holiday Inn
750 S Central Avenue, Marshfield, WI 54449
