By GARRETT SAGER
Hays Post
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, with more than five million Americans living with the disease. On Saturday, Oct. 8, Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be hosting an event to raise money and awareness in Hays.
“It’s just a way for people to have hope,” said Jenny Leiker, co-chair of the Hays Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Registration starts at 10 a.m. and the ceremonies will start at about 11:15 a.m. There is no cost, it is free to start a team and, if you earn $125, you get a free t-shirt. You do not need to form a team to participate, Leiker said. To participate, simply show up at the event and register.
The event is being held at Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine.
“This is the first year that we are going to be having this event at Big Creek Crossing, and I am really excited about that,” Leiker said. “They’ve been amazing to work with.”
The event is typically ran at the Robbins Center on the Fort Hays State University campus, but Leiker said the event has outgrown that venue.
“It’s a good problem that we had last year, outgrowing the Robbins Center, plus I really wanted us to get downtown and away from campus because I want the visibility of people seeing us walking because awareness is such a big part of this,” she said.
There are many activities that go on during the event, according to Leiker.
“We have a spirit table, you can sign up for prizes, music will be playing, and we do this promise garden ceremony,” she said.
The promise garden ceremony is a special part of the event, Leiker said.
Participants will get a flower before the walk begins. Each color of flower means a different thing. A blue flower represents someone with Alzheimer’s, a purple flower is for someone who has lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s, a yellow flower represents someone who is currently caring for someone with the disease, and orange is for everyone who supports the cause and vision of living in a world without Alzheimer’s.
“We all plant them together before we walk and come back and have a meal together,” Leiker said.
There are currently about 150 pre-registered walkers split into 30 teams. Most of the people register at the event, according to Leiker. Last year, there were about 290 people and, the year before, 180.
“I would hope, and I expect, we will break that 300 mark this year,” she said.
Because the Hays walk has been so prosperous, the Alzheimer’s Association set what Leiker calls a “lofty goal.”
“The goal is just short of $32,000,” she said.
Currently the Hays walk has raised 25 percent of the goal that was set.
“We were in about the same position last year and it was amazing, that last week people just went nuts and started getting the money in there,” Leiker said. “I’d like to believe it will turn out the same again this year.”
All of the money raised goes to the Alzheimer’s Association for research, caring for those individuals with Alzheimer’s and raising awareness of the disease.
“It’s so important that we continue to raise funds. There is no cure or no way to slow it down or prevent it,” Leiker said.
If you would like to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association and the Hays walk, click here.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s is an event held nationwide with 600 walks happening across the country.
“There’s a couple of communities that use to have one but do not anymore,” said Leiker, “but fact that Hays has been able to grow it so much is what has kept the event here.”
Walk to End Alzheimer’s started in Hays about 10 years ago, according to Leiker, and has been well received by the community.
“The Hays people are amazing. We doubled the size of attendees last year, and I think we are going to blow some records again this year,” Leiker said.