Dear Editor,

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Bainbridge’s first Walk to End Alzheimer’s is October 21, 2017 Downtown on the Square. A small committee of volunteers need your help to make the Bainbridge Walk a success. Why should you help?
Currently, over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease or some form of dementia; 140,000 of those are in Georgia. Nearly 11 million are faced with the financial and emotional challenge of caring for a loved one with the disease. Dementia is one of the 10 most common diseases in the United States, but the only one of these for which there is no prevention, as well as no cure or treatment. Dementia kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Since 2000, deaths from heart disease have declined by 14%, while deaths from Alzheimer’s have increased by 89%.
My family has seen the ravages of dementia. Almost everyone I know has had a family member or friend whose life has been devastated by this progressive and relentless disease.
The 2017 Bainbridge Walk to End Alzheimer’s Committee, Emily Vent, Kathy Varner, Jean Reynolds, Ronnie Burke, Lindy Harrell, Ann Brannen, Audrey Dollar and me, are committed to raising awareness and funds to help fight this disease.
What can you do? Go to georgiawalk.org and find the Bainbridge Walk. Join a Team, start your own Team, join as an Individual. Become a Sponsor. Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter and tell everyone you know the facts about dementia. Challenge others to do the same.
Help us in the fight against this terrible disease.

Thea Burke