Natalie Aviles walks for her Grandmother.
Aviles will join hundreds of others impacted by the progressive brain disease to share in the hope to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia, the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“We walk because we must continue to fund research to seek new solutions,” Aviles said. “Because of funding from the Alzheimer’s Association, we have seen leaps in understanding, but more work is needed. We can not let this disease continue to take our loved ones.”
Join Aviles and other residents on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Polk County at Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Boulevard, in Lakeland. Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by a ceremony at 9 a.m. The Walk will immediately follow. The route is 1.6 miles.
November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. The Alzheimer’s Association marks these events by recognizing and honoring all those impacted.
Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Polk County has an estimated 17,900 people or 11.8 percent of residents over the age of 65 living with Alzheimer’s. In Florida, there are more than 580,000 people living with the disease and 840,000 unpaid dementia caregivers.
New treatments to help slow down the progression of the disease have been approved as recently as July and are giving families hope for the first time.
Aviles has been a longtime Walk volunteer and has hope for the future.
“New treatments that slow the progression of Alzheimer’s have given us the first glimmers of hope for a future where no one has to worry about losing all they are to this terrible disease,” Aviles said.
On Walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony — a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. During the ceremony, walkers will carry flowers of various colors, each color representing their personal connection to the disease.
The event’s local presenting sponsors are Florida Southern College; Lakeland Regional Health; Mary E. Tye; and Publix Super Markets Charities. Edward Jones is the national presenting sponsor.
To register and receive the latest updates for this year’s Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, visit Alz.org/PolkCountyWalk or contact Shree Chamberlain at [email protected] or 863.279.9350 for more information.
Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®
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. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s Association®
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.