‘Supporting the cause’
Local Walk to End Alzheimer's raises over $93,000
More than 275 residents participated in this year’s sixth annual Humboldt County Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, participants walked as individuals and small groups on sidewalks, tracks and trails across Humboldt County on Oct. 9, raising more than $93,000 to support the care, support and research programs of the Alzheimer’s Association.
According to walk cochair Bonnie Neely, “We are grateful to our returning teams and our new teams. In talking to some of the Humboldt County residents that have been diagnosed with dementia, it meant the world to them that even with a pandemic going on, local businesses as well as family, friends and neighbors were able to continue to support them by supporting the cause.”
Kelly Sanders, walk cochair, added, “Countless families will benefit from the dollars and awareness raised. The money will provide care and support for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias as well as fund research projects that will one day eradicate this disease.”
Visiting Angels Eureka is the top fundraising team at this year’s walk, raising $23,284.54. They have participated every year the Humboldt County walk has been held.
Jeanne O’Neale, team captain and Visiting Angels Eureka CEO, said that their reason for participating is to help put an end to this disease.
“Alzheimer’s is a disease that people live with 24 hours a day so the fundraising needs to happen 24 hours a day,” O’Neale said.
The Visiting Angels Eureka team is also in second place nationwide for the most money raised by a Visiting Angels team. The top ten Visiting Angels teams in the country will have their walk teams credited with incentives starting from $35,000 for first place to $10,000 for 10th place from the national Visiting Angels CEO. To help the Visiting Angels Eureka team finish in one of the top 10 spots, donations can be made to their team: http://act.alz. org/goto/Visiting_Angels_ Eureka or write a check to the Alzheimer’s Association and mail to: Visiting Angels, 1112 Fifth St., Eureka, CA 95501. Winners will be determined on Dec. 1.
O’Neale and Lynn McKenna, a Visiting Angels team member, were the top two individual fundraisers this year, raising a combined total of $18,198.
McKenna said, “The reason that the walk has been so successful this year is directly related to the generosity of the businesses in the community and the thousands of individuals that have sponsored all of our teams.”
Donations are still being accepted for the 2021 Humboldt County walk. To donate, visit http://act.alz. org/humboldt2020 or mail a check to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 2542, McKinleyville, CA 95519.
Kim Coelho, community engagement manager for the Alzheimer’s Association, is grateful to everyone who participated this year.
“The community stepped up again, despite the challenges they had raising funds with COVID-19 restrictions,” she said. “I’m amazed by the amount that our local Visiting Angels team raises. Lynn McKenna and Jeanne O’Neale raise funds 24/7. They won’t stop until we put an end to this disease.”
A highlight of this year’s walk was a live Promise Flower Garden on the Arcata Plaza. Joanne Conzelmann, a member of the Humboldt County Walk Planning Committee, and a few other volunteers helped plant a Promise Garden using real flowers. The Promise Garden flowers represented participants’ connection to Alzheimer’s — their reasons to end the disease. With the help of the city of Arcata, a local nursery and walk volunteers, the garden was planted this spring. Thirteen additional gardens were “planted” with Walk to End Alzheimer’s branded spin wheel flowers in locations throughout Humboldt County. John Schmidt, logistics chair, worked with city councils, businesses and post offices across Humboldt County to find locations to display the Promise Gardens.
Conzelmann annually organizes the promise flower ceremony. “It’s the part where we promise to do what we can to fight the disease and find a cure in whatever way we as individuals can. … It’s so heartfelt and inspiring,” she said.
A link to the pre-recorded Promise Flower ceremony can be found on the Humboldt County Walk to End Alzheimer’s website.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 3,000 people in Humboldt and Del Norte counties suffer from the fatal disease. More than 600,000 Californians 65-plus are living with Alzheimer’s disease. This number is expected to double to 1.5 million by 2040. Additionally, more than 1.6 million Californians provide care to people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Families that are battling this disease can contact the Humboldt Senior Resource Center Alzheimer’s Resource Center, Redwood Caregiver Resource Center, Area 1 Agency on Aging, Adult Day Health Care of Mad River and the Alzheimer’s Association for support. The Alzheimer’s Association provides a free nationwide 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900) that receives more than 310,000 calls annually and is staffed by specialists and master’s-level clinicians who provide support, offer information and suggest referrals.
The Humboldt County Walk to End Alzheimer’s is developed and planned by a committee of volunteers who work year-round in the areas of advocacy, mission, marketing, team retention, team recruitment, sponsorship and logistics. To join the committee, email kcoelho@alz.org.