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YOUNGSTOWN - More than 300 people took a walk Saturday for the Alzheimer's Association Greater East Ohio Area Chapter as it hosted its Walk to End Alzheimer's Saturday at Youngstown State University.
These annual walks take place nationwide, and are meant to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, research and support.
According to event organizer Keyana Carter, the funds raised by the walk go into the association's various services across the Mahoning Valley, all of which support treatment for Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
"This event, and the funds that come from it, directly support the Mahoning Valley, Youngstown, Warren, even Columbiana and Canfield, so all the areas around," Carter said. "The funds go directly to making sure that we have our support groups, our 24/7 call line for families to reach, and free education and programming in the community."
Carter also credited the support of the Association's local partners who helped make the event possible. She also said the Association is interested in expanding its number of partners.
"We have our annual supporters of Comfort Keepers, Myers Family Insurance, Windsor House and NeuroCare, which is located in Canton, but provides services out here," Carter said.
"We have amazing partners in the community that come out every year. We are looking to continue to grow our partnerships. These are people who have just stood with us in the community, and decided to be sponsors for the walk. So, their sponsorship goes directly to the resources that we provide through the community."
Saturday's walk was successful in raising tens of thousands of dollars for the Association, with them setting an even higher goal for next year. Carter noted the importance of this fundraising, as the Mahoning Valley has an aging population.
"Currently today, we are sitting at $68,796, not including everything that we've gotten from the walk today. So we're really excited to see where we land," Carter said.
"Today, our goal is $92,000. Next year, we are aiming for a six-figure walk, and what that does for our area is just make sure that we have enough resources for the growing elder population in the area."
The services supported by this fundraising are wide-reaching, including educating the public on how to help prevent dementia, to ways to detect early signs of it. Carter said that these services can help younger generations too, not just older adults.
"As we are getting better with detection, we are noticing even younger people being able to identify that they have Alzheimer's or dementia. So our services are needed now more than ever in a more broader sense," Carter said.
"We actually have free education that anyone in the community can sign up and have their entire group be educated on, but these are things like eating healthy, we have diet recommendations. We have staying fit, just like this walk we provide everyone.”
Carter stressed the importance of events like the Walk to End Alzheimer's, and urged people in the Mahoning Valley to help support the Association's cause.
"With the growing need of Alzheimer's or dementia (treatment), we need now more than ever for communities and families to really back our mission," Carter said.
Mandy Miles, Mahoning Valley Walk Community Engagement Chair, said the Association will continue to raise funds through the end of the year that will add to its goal.