Murphy – Under blue and sunny skies, local residents gathered at the pavilion near the Rock Gym to put their feet to work for a great cause.
About 30 people donned appropriate attire fit for walking on Sept. 11 to participate in the Freedom from Alzheimer’s Walk, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Murphy and the Lions Club of Andrews. Prior to the walk, participants were treated to ditty bags, soda, water and lunch.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in every three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. More than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for those with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, and more than 6 million Americans are living with the disease, which kills more people than breast and prostate cancers combined.
The Rotary Club of Murphy is helping fight the devastating disease by raising money for Alzheimer’s research with spare change. The CART Program – Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust – collects spare change for the cause.
“In the past two years, this district in western North Carolina has raised more than $1 million in funds towards research,” said Rotarian Trevis Hicks, who especially emphasized the local club’s CART efforts when he was president.
Hicks was also walking for the cause.
“It’s an honor to be able to do this in honor of all those folks who have dealt with it. I think it’s one of the worst diseases out there,” he said.
“They can completely loose fact of who they are, why they existed and what they did. To me, that’s one of the saddest ways to die. If we can eliminate this disease with pennies on the dollar at a time, then every penny is an investment.”
The Rotary Club of Murphy also made $1,000 donation to the CART Program during the walk.
Rose Anderson was walking with her daughter and granddaughter in honor of her husband, Dan, who lost his battle with Alzheimer’s disease earlier this year.
“It means so much,” she said. “Dan taught in this area for many years at Murphy High School and Tri-County Community College. I was honored to be invited to come. We want to make more people aware of it because it’s such a debilitating disease.”
County Commissioner Jan Griggs also walked, saying she has lost several family members to Alzheimer’s disease.
“Anything that can be done to help eliminate and make it better for people, including their families who suffer so much with them, is a good thing.” she said.
Participants could walk as short or long a distance as they chose to, and buckets were also available to toss spare change into. All monies raised go to the research of Alzheimer’s disease. More than $11 million has been raised through the CART Program.
Details: cartfund.org/donations.