Detroit — Tim Slomers never had the chance to meet his grandfather Harry, who died five years before he was born after battling Alzheimer’s disease.
But that didn’t stop the Rockwood resident from walking in his memory at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s today at Ford Field.
“I wanted to walk because I never had a chance to meet him, said Slomers, who wore a t-shirt with the logo #TeamHarry on it. “This is like my tribute to him.”
More than 5,000 people participated in the mile-long walk around Ford Field and Comerica Park with a goal to raise at least $500,000.
“We are here to remember every person who has faced the challenge of Alzeimer’s and each of you embodies that commitment,” said Don Rosenberg, chair of the board of directors of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Michigan chapter, during a ceremony out front of Ford Field.
Each participant was given a pinwheel flower when they signed in, on which they wrote the names of friends and family members who have struggled with the disease. On some flowers, every single petal had a different name.
Pamela Urick of South Lyon was leading a team of family members that called themselves Families Hope For A Cure. She said she was walking for her mother Elvera, who was diagnosed five years ago and has been living with Alzheimer’s as well as her father Clarence and her grandmother Eva, both deceased.
“A lot of people don’t realize what happens and how you even get it,” said Urick, one of nine children. “(Here) you just meet so many people and hear their stories.”
In its 22 year, this is the first time the event will be held downtown, having moved from the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak.
The menagerie of zoo animals was replaced with Paws, Roary and Grizz, the mascots for the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Lions and the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies. Together they cut the starting line ribbon stretched across Adams East and kicked off the walk.
“I’m so pleased and ecstatic that we are so big that we have to come here,” said Urick, whose team raised $2,000.
The mile-long walk is the group’s major annual fundraiser and money raised goes toward research and day camp programs for individual’s with the disease.
Many of the walkers were workers at clinics or homes for individuals with Alzheimer’s where they see the effects of the disease everyday.
“It can be a challenge because a lot of memories are fading,” said Chris Brown from the Manors Southgate facility. She was a first-time walker. “It’s exciting to know that the community is thinking about people with Alzheimer’s.
0 comments:
Post a Comment