It’s that time of year again when volunteers from across the United States join together to organize and conduct local events now known as  the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. (WTEA).

The WTEA is a major fundraiser for The Alzheimer’s Association, a national organization with a mission to provide support for persons with Alzheimer’s, education for patients, their caregivers, their loved ones, and professionals within the medical community.  The Alzheimer’s Association also helps fund efforts to find a cure for the dread disease that afflicts some six million persons in the United States and many millions of others around the globe.

I have seen estimates that for every one person shackled with Alzheimer’s another five people are directly impacted.  Those, of course, are loved ones of the person with Alzheimer’s, a spouse, a child, a grand child, a sibling, a life-long friend. It is epidemic of staggering scope.

The lion’s share of the money raised in events like WTEA remains local where chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association use it to wage war against the disease and bring help to those on the front lines of the disease.

To find out more about a Walk to End Alzheimer’s please click here.

As many of you know, I have a longstanding personal stake in Alzheimer’s because it took my mother.  My wife and I have long worked to raise awareness of the disease and do what we can to help in the quest for a cure.

Earlier this week I was honored to attend my first meeting of the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, where I have now been elected to serve as a member of the board. It was truly a fabulous experience to sit around a conference table with so many people who are giving their time, money, efforts and expertise to aid persons with Alzheimer’s and to fight for a cure.

Just a word about the Walk itself.  To be sure, it is labeled a Walk, but in truth it is more of a place where people come to show support for the cause, to find persons who are sharing similar experiences with them, to encourage one another.  A person can walk if she wants, but really the walk part  is just an excuse for people to bind together in a show of solidarity.

Also, many groups and businesses participate in the Walks by forming teams.  These can be teams of co-workers, students, friends of a person with Alzheimer’s, church groups, you name it. Often these groups walk in honor or memory of a person with Alzheimer’s who has touched their lives.

So, please take the time to check out the information about a Walk to End Alzheimer’s near you, and come out and show your support for persons with Alzheimer’s and for those dealing with it on so many levels.

See you at the Walk.