Walk to End Alzheimer's will take place Oct. 10

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place Oct. 10 at WATTS, the Watson and Tressel Training Site, 651 Elm St., at Youngstown State University.

The Alzheimer’s Association Greater East Ohio Chapter invites Mahoning and Columbiana county-area residents to form teams and sign up to participate.

To participate in the walk, register online at www.alz.org/walk, or call 330-533-3300. There’s no cost to sign up, but walkers are urged to seek donations from family members, friends, co-workers and other contacts.

For information call Helen Paes, development coordinator, at 330-533-3300, or email her at hpaes@alz.org.

The event is the nation’s largest to raise awareness and funds for care, support, education and research relating to Alzheimer’s disease.

Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m., and opening ceremonies, at 9:30 a.m.

Walks to End Alzheimer’s take place in more than 700 communities.

Participants of all ages share their collective voices as advocates, walk in honor of loved ones and help raise awareness of programs and services available to families affected by the disease.

Refreshments, basket drawings, Kids Korner, entertainment and other activities will be featured.

Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic and is the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death.

As Baby Boomers age, the number of those with Alzheimer’s will escalate well beyond today’s estimated 5.4 million Americans who are afflicted.

The Greater East Ohio Area Chapter provides education, guidance, referral information and support for the 60,000 people with Alzheimer’s and their 250,000 caregivers in the service area.