Walk makes debut Sunday

The Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk, held annually in more than 500 communities nationwide, is making its first appearance in Bloomington Sunday at Bryan Park.\nAt 1 p.m., supporters will embark on a 5K walk surrounding the Bryan Park neighborhood to raise funds and awareness for a disease of which the causes are unknown, and for which there is still no cure.\nSince 1989, the Memory Walk has raised more than $120 million for local programs and services offered to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia among older people. It affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities.\n"The statistics are pretty frightening if you know them," said Mary Ellen Wells, director of the south central Indiana chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. \nThirty percent of all individuals in the United States over the age of 75 suffer from the disease, including 47 percent over age 85. The devastation affects not only the patient but the entire family as well.\n"It touches a lot of lives and changes the whole dynamics of a family," said Bev Johnson, adult family services manager for Bloomington Parks and Recreation. "It can be a very big burden."\nThe city's Parks and Recreation Department has teamed with Beverly Health Care in support of the Alzheimer's Association. The Association provides several support services for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. They offer educational programs, support groups and a 24-hour live trained-person help line. \nSponsors set a goal of 200 walkers and $8,000 for the Bloomington walk. Contributions already amount to $6,000 and Johnson said she feels good about the response from the community so far. Walkers can sign up to participate as individuals, families or teams. Registration continues at the Adult Community Center from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. today and Saturday, and race day registration will be held by the Bryan Park Pool at noon on Sunday.\n"We think Alzheimer's is a very serious problem and a lot of our clientele face problems with it," said Daren Eads, facility coordinator for the Adult Community Center. "This is a wonderful opportunity for Bloomington to show support of fighting the disease."\nMany of the participants are expected to have Alzheimer's or be related or associated with someone who has the disease. There will be live entertainment provided by the Ralph Eads Band and a free cookout following the walk. \nPrizes will be awarded to the highest fundraisers in the team and individual categories. Anyone who raises at least $50 is awarded a Memory Walk T-shirt, and more prizes are added on as the amount of money raised increases. \n"We're really excited about it," Wells said. "I think it's going to be a really nice day and a great walk." \nPlans are already in the works to make the walk an annual event in Bloomington. Organizers see it as a walk that could grow over the years, and are hoping to make next year's goals bigger after awareness of the event grows.\n-- Contact staff writer Hannah Schroder at hschrode@indiana.edu.