PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Thousands turned out Saturday for the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's at Citizens Bank Park. The goal of the event was to raise not only money, but awareness.
What started as the Memory Walk in 1989 has grown into one of the largest fundraising walks in the country, according to Kristina Fransel, executive director of the Alzheimer's Association's Delaware Valley chapter. More than 5,000 participants registered this year, raising over $1.2 million since January.
Fransel said so many people likely participate because the disease touches so many lives. "Alzheimer's disease affects more than six million people in the country," she noted. "The leading cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease."
Tashae Wilson of South Philadelphia said she walked for her grandmother, who was diagnosed in 2008. "It's really close to my heart," she said. "I hope that one day they really, really do find a cure for this because my great-grandmother also passed away from this."
Many people wore shirts commemorating their loved ones. Jonathan Burak of Runnemede, New Jersey and his son had a matching shirts to remember Nana. "She meant everything to me. She raised me," he said. "I with there was a cure or something to help treat it because it's just terrible."
While some can be diagnosed with Alzheimer's while young, age is a dominating factor when it comes to risk of developing dementia, according to Fransel. "It is not the normal signs of aging," she said, "so that is, I think, one of the things that is often misunderstood."
Wilson added it's also emotional to watch a loved one's condition deteriorate because of this condition.
"The way that you come into this world as a baby, not walking, not talking, not being able to feed yourself, think for yourself, all those things happen with this disease," she said.
For Matthew Baer of Magnolia, New Jersey, that deterioration is painful for the entire family. He said he managed to interact with his grandmother with patience, by bringing up things she loved. "Talking with her about that kind of stuff and every moment I had was special," he shared.
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