SIDNEY — The Sidney Walk to End Alzheimer’s committee recently held an event to reach out to the people of Shelby County.

“The purpose tonight is twofold, to inform people about what we’re doing here — there are so many people who don’t know that we come to Shelby County and have programs and support groups here — but also to recruit new teams,” said Maire Reynolds, Walk to End Alzheimer’s coordinator.

Mark Kauffman, Alzheimer’s Association, Miami Valley Chapter director, joins Reynolds in contacting the Miami Valley region.

“The Alzheimer’s Association is the global leader in Alzheimer’s research, and has been involved in every major advancement in Alzheimer’s and related dementia research since the 1980’s,” reported Kauffman.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers several other programs that benefit the area. They offer support groups, care consultations, help in obtaining a diagnosis, and a 24/7 helpline.

“No matter where you are in your journey with dementia, the Alzheimer’s Association can help. It is an honor to travel throughout our nine-county area and encourage people to take advantage of the free programs and services we offer,” said Kauffman.

The Annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s helps to raise money to support the research and outreaches of the association.

“Three years ago, we had 150 people at the Walk. Two years we had more than 300, and last year we had nearly 400 walkers. I would love to finally break 400 at this year’s Walk,” said Christine Douglas, event chair for the Sidney Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Although Alzheimer’s is most often thought of as memory loss in senior citizens and is often interchanged with the term dementia, it is actually a type of dementia.

While memory loss is a symptom of Alzheimer’s, there are several more. Other symptoms of Alzheimer’s include recent problems speaking or writing, changes in mood or personality, difficulty with familiar tasks, decreased or poor judgment, and withdrawal from work or social activities.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disorder and is currently irreversible.

“By the time we go to bed tonight, 1,300 people will have developed Alzheimer’s disease. This means that every day, across the country, more than 1,000 people are developing Alzheimer’s disease. Of these 1,300 people, there will be no survivors. That is why we need to walk,” said Kauffman.

“It’s terrible. When a loved one has Alzheimer’s, you lose them twice, once when it begins and again when they pass away,” said Reynolds.

Over 30,000 people in the nine-county area live with Alzheimer’s. Approximately 1,000 of those live in Shelby County.

“You do not have to be living with the disease to be impacted by it. Each of those people have family, friends, and caregivers, which triples the number of those directly impacted by this disease in Shelby County. I walk for those 3,000 people,” said Douglas.

Adrienne Fortkamp, recruitment chair for the Sidney Walk to End Alzheimer’s, explained the Promise Garden flowers given during the opening ceremony of each Walk.

“Every Walk to End Alzheimer’s participant receives a flower, and each flower represents a different connection to the disease: Purple means you have lost someone to Alzheimer’s. Orange means you support the cause. Yellow means you are a caregiver, either professionally or personally, and Blue means you are living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. These flowers are a wonderful visual to remind us all why we walk,” said Fortkamp.

“I walk for the thousands of Shelby County residents who will be impacted by Alzheimer’s disease each year. I walk because Alzheimer’s disease is relentless, but so are we,” said Kauffman.

This year’s walk will take place Sept. 23 at 10 a.m at the Sidney Courthouse Square. For more information or to participate in the Sidney Walk to End Alzheimer’s, call Kauffman at 800-272-3900 or visit act.alz.org.