Strides made with first ever Walk to End Alzheimer’s

The Bi-Stone Alzheimer’s Walk attracted about 140 people Saturday, June 22, and raised $11,000 for research, according to Tiffany Koslovsky, regional director for the Alzheimer’s Association office in Waco.
“It was so amazing,” Koslovsky said. “It obviously was super-hot, but it was so wonderful that the community came out. I honestly found myself in tears a couple of times because it was so heartwarming to see everyone together.”
The Alzheimer’s Association sponsors the Walk to End Alzheimer’s nationwide every year.
The walk was the first such event in Limestone and Freestone Counties, and it took place at Limestone Medical Center in Groesbeck.
“The community obviously really wanted it, and they came out and showed their support,” Koslovsky said.
The participants seemed to enjoy the three-hour event that attracted families and friends of Alzheimer’s patients, people who lost significant people in their lives to the degenerative brain disease, caregivers and even a couple of people who have been diagnosed with it, Koslovsky said.
“We had great food trucks and some phenomenal lemonade,” Koslovsky said. “We danced to music, we had safe planned activities for kids like face-painting. There was a little kiddy train ride, a 360 selfie station that made videos and Fox 44 was there with emcees.”
In addition to the walk, the participants gathered to raise their pinwheel flowers they received at registration in unison. The flowers were different colors to signify the role of the individual. Blue flowers meant the person was suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Koslovsky said there will be another walk next year, but the location and the time of year has yet to be decided. Some people suggested the event be held at Fort Parker, and that it be in the fall.
“That was the only complaint that we got – that it was so hot,” Koslovsky said. “People were darting for the shade and the tents.”
Koslovsky said Limestone Medical Center was an ideal location for the walk because there was security, electricity for all the vendors and entertainment and the hospital available in case of a medical emergency.
Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, afflicting 55 million people globally. Advocates say fundraisers are essential to pay for research in finding new ways to treat the disease.
Limestone Medical Center Marketing Director Leeann Freeman said a test that will allow earlier diagnoses of the disease is close to being developed to interrupt its progression.
“That would be huge,” she said.