
“It is very encouraging that over 300 Augusta County residents became Champions in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease at this year’s Memory Walk,” said Sue Friedman, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association Central and Western Virginia. “With funds raised at this year’s Walk, the Alzheimer’s Association will provide much needed care and support to people touched by the disease as well as research to fight Alzheimer’s disease.”
State Del. Steve Landes and WHSV-TV3 anchor Melanie Lofton served as honorary starters of the walk. The team raising the most money was Dream Weavers, raising over $6,000. The sponsors of this year’s walk were Augusta Health, Bentley Commons Senior Living, Coffman Funeral Home, The New Dominion Magazine and Crossroads Business Magazine.
There are as many as 5.3 million people currently living with the disease in America. In Virginia alone, there will be 130,000 living with the disease by 2010. It is estimated that someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease every 70 seconds, by mid-century someone will develop Alzheimer’s disease every 33 seconds.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk is nationally presented by Genworth Financial.