At the end of the month, students, faculty and staff can participate in the Abilene Memory Walk to raise awareness for a deadly disease.
The walk will help raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association
“Alzheimer’s disease is the epidemic of the 21st century,” said Libby Connally, regional director of the North-Central Texas chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
While there is no cost to walk in the Memory Walk Saturday, Sept. 25, the participants must find sponsors to contribute donations to the cause. Students have the choice of walking as an individual or on a team.
ACU’s Gerontology honor society, Sigma Phi Omega, is forming a team to walk in the Memory Walk. Spaces on the team are open to anyone interested.
“We want anyone in the ACU community to join our team to walk together for this cause, not just members,” said Mary Swantek, senior exercise science major and president of Sigma Phi Omega from Clarkston, Mich.
Swantek stressed the importance of bridging the gap between younger and older-aged people.
“Besides forming a team for the Memory Walk, we will be planning other events like Wii night at Christian Village Retirement Home,” Swantek said.
Registration at the Abilene Zoo will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by a tribute ceremony. The walk will begin at 9:00 a.m.
“There will also be information booths, refreshments, entertainment, such as the Sweetwater Community Band and the Texas Tornadoes line dancers,” Connally said. “The walk will be one time around the zoo, although people can walk as long as they would like. Following the walk, there will be door prizes.”
The Abilene Memory Walk is part of the nation’s largest event to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.
“The association is a nonprofit agency that provides information and referral, a 24-hour toll-free help line, education programs, support groups, and advocacy for Alzheimer families,” Connally said. “The Abilene regional office services folks in 14 counties north, east, and south of Taylor County.”
The funds raised at this event will be used to provide such services to families in the those 14 counties.
There is also a need for volunteers on the day of the Memory Walk. Those interested can call Connally at 325-672-2907.
Visit www.alz.org/northcentraltexas for more information, or stop by the Pruett Gerontology Center in the Hardin Administration Building to register. Participants can also register the day of the walk. Members of the ACU community interested in joining the ACU Memory Walk team may contact Mary Swantek at mes06h@acu.edu.
