When John Dunbar, the mayor of Yountville, was asked if his town would host a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s, Dunbar thought of his father and knew immediately what needed to be done.
His answer to the Alzheimer’s Association was a definite “yes” — his father, William, died in 2010 after struggling with the disease for several years.
“It’s really a personal and professional honor (to host the fundraiser),” Dunbar said.
On Sept. 7, Yountville will host the county’s first Napa Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which aims to raise $32,000 for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
As of Wednesday, 80 walkers had signed up for the event and more than $15,000 had been donated.
One of the event’s participants will be Cynthia Guzman, who was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s about a year ago and now lives at The Meadows, a retirement community located in south Napa. Since her diagnosis, Guzman has been working as an advocate for Alzheimer’s research.
Thanks to Guzman’s efforts, Congressman Mike Thompson will be attending the fundraiser and plans to speak to the crowd before the start of the walk. He will also introduce Guzman as an Alzheimer’s advocate.
“To get the word out is the most important thing,” Guzman said. “I want to be a face and a voice for Alzheimer’s.”
Alzheimer’s is more than just memory loss — it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. But unlike other common causes of death, Alzheimer’s has no proven prevention method, cure or way to slow its progression.
Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia. Symptoms typically develop slowly and become worse over time, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. In late-stage Alzheimer’s, people lose the ability to carry on conversations or respond to their surroundings.
Severe dementia can cause immobility, swallowing disorders and malnutrition, all of which significantly increase the risk of developing other serious conditions. Chief among these is pneumonia, which has been found to be the most common cause of death among elderly people with Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
While there is no proven way to prevent the disease, people can help maintain their brain health by staying physically and socially active, by challenging the brain with crossword puzzles and other mental exercises, and by eating a low-fat, low cholesterol diet that is rich in antioxidants, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
The Napa Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s will begin at Yountville Park and head south on a bike trail that parallels Highway 29 before turning toward the Veterans Home. Participants will have the option of walking a 1-mile or 3-mile route.
Instead of seeking sponsors, participants are asked to donate or raise as much money as they would like. At least one person in Napa has already conducted a garage sale and raised more than $1,000, said Shelley Dombroski, director of the North Bay area Alzheimer’s Association.
The North Bay chapter chose Napa Valley as a location for the walk because of the support it has shown to the organization, Dombroski said. The Alzheimer’s Association provides services in Napa Valley and has held an annual conference at the Yountville Community Center for about five years, she said.
Mayor John Dunbar said he was surprised that Napa Valley hadn’t hosted the walk in the past — considering the area’s large senior population. In Yountville, in particular, the average age of residents is in the upper 60s, and a significant portion of the population lives at the Veteran’s Home.
If the fundraiser in September is successful, it’s likely the event will return to Napa Valley in 2014.
Guzman, who is in her mid-60s, has been practicing for the event by walking a loop around The Meadows retirement community.
As of Wednesday, Guzman had personally raised close to $600 for the event.
“It’s really important that we get money for research,” she said. “I might not benefit from it, but it may help others who come along.”
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