Two upcoming Dodge City community events will have the same goal – raising donations to support people who have Alzheimer’s disease.
The first event is a pancake-and-sausage breakfast scheduled for 7 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26 at SunPorch of Dodge City, 501 W. Beeson. The cost is $5 per person.
“Many of our elders will attend this breakfast and they would enjoy spending time with people who want to support the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Debbie Allen, SunPorch marketing and community liaison. “We encourage families to join us for a good time and a worthy cause.”
The breakfast will lead up to the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which is set for Saturday, Sept. 29 at Wright Park.
Registration is open at 9 a.m. The two-mile walk will begin at 9:30 a.m., while others will follow at 10 a.m. The event will conclude by noon.
Individuals and teams may pre-register at www.alz.org/walk. Anyone who signs up in advance and raises at least $100 will qualify for an Alzheimer’s T-shirt. Allen and her colleagues appreciate the guidance from the Alzheimer’s Association in organizing the Walk.
“SunPorch realizes the importance of Alzheimer’s support, research and education,” Allen said. “Many of our elders have the disease or some form of dementia. We see first-hand every day how this disease affects the lives and health of not only the people who live here but also their families.
“The annual Walk is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and money for Alzheimer’s. SunPorch is proud to be part of it this year and encourages other businesses, agencies and individuals to get involved. Brookdale and Manor of the Plains have been involved in the Walk for several years.”
Members of Team SunPorch Memory Walkers will be sporting T-shirts designed especially for their team.
Most of the funds raised during the Walk stay in local communities and the remainder is used for research and other programs. “It is wonderful that most of the money will be used locally to support Ford County residents,” Allen said. “But it is also important to fund research efforts.”
At a recent convention, Allen explained, members of the Central and Western Kansas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association spoke with a researcher who had been awarded $100,000 for a two-year period.
“This researcher was able to use this backing of the Alzheimer’s Association to obtain additional funding of $5 million,” Allen noted. “The initial funding launched his career in this crucial research.”
The Dodge City Library is sponsoring a Walk for children and Dodge City Appliances is loaning the grill to SunPorch for the pancake breakfast.
