(WNY News Now) – Chautauqua County residents are invited to join the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® on Saturday, October 5, at Point Gratiot Park in Dunkirk. Registration opens at 10 a.m., with the Walk starting at 11 a.m.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (September 24, 2024) –The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting Chautauqua County residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® on Saturday, October 5, at Point Gratiot Park in Dunkirk. Registration opens at 10 a.m., with the Walk commencing at 11 a.m.
“This is a pivotal moment in the fight against Alzheimer’s. There are now treatments that change the course of the disease,” says Kaitlyn Less, director of development for the Western New York Chapter. “We hope that everyone in the community can join us to help the Alzheimer’s Association raise awareness and funds for families facing the disease today, take more steps toward treatments and finally end this disease.”
The Walk is both a professional and personal calling for Zac Hnatyszyn. “As the vice president of community outreach for Culture Care Senior Living, my role extends far beyond overseeing operations. My passion lies in making a meaningful impact on the lives of those we care for—especially those battling Alzheimer’s and dementia,” he says.
“This fight isn’t just a professional responsibility for me; it’s a personal mission. Alzheimer’s has touched my family directly. My wife’s grandmother, a woman full of life and stories, now resides in our Memory Garden facility, where we lovingly care for her as she faces the challenges of this disease. Watching someone you love slowly lose pieces of themselves to Alzheimer’s is a heart-wrenching experience, but it has only strengthened my resolve to help others walking the same path,” Hnatyszyn says.
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.
Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In New York State, there are more than 426,5000 people living with the disease and 543,000 caregivers.
The funds raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s ensure the programs and services provided by the Alzheimer’s Association are free to all who need them, in addition to funding the research and advocacy efforts which have resulted in new treatments for people living in the early stage.
To register and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s for Chautauqua County, visit act.alz.org/Chautauqua.
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.
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