A petal for a memory
Alzheimer’s disease. Many people know of someone who has suffered through this prolonged and painful disease.
That is why the Alzheimer’s association began the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
The walk is in remembrance of those who have been taken by the disease, those who are still suffering through and for the family members and loved ones who have suffered as well.
The borough of Carmichaels hosted their very own walk recently to help raise money for the association.
The Carmichaels walk has been going on for three years, and has now become an annual event.
Creator and head of the Carmichaels division, Jennifer Faddis, could not hold back her joy at the response she received for the walk this year.
“I wanted to start this for my mom. She has had Alzheimer’s for 12 years now,” Faddis said. “It was just me and my best friend who started this three years ago and were the only ones on the committee. This year, we have over 15.”
Each year the event continues to grow, with over 350 people involved in this year’s walk.
The donation goal also continues to climb.
This year, the goal for the walk was $16,000, which was well exceeded. One team participating in the race raised $14,500 on their own.
Melissa Cuppet, captain of that team, said that she had no idea how much money her team would raise.
“I took it upon myself to get my family together; we have really done all of this together. I cannot take credit for everything because they did a lot themselves,” Cuppet said.
Within three months, Cuppet and her team of 40 people raised the large amount of money by having yard sales, guest bartending, holding 31 sales and asking for people to donate to the cause.
Like many others who are involved in the walk, Cuppet was doing it for personal reasons.
“My grandmother has Alzheimer’s so we are all doing this for her,” Cuppet said.
The walk began by the Promise Garden, an area of ground set aside for artificial flowers.
Anyone participating received one flower to place in the garden. Many people wrote names of loved ones on the petals of the flowers.
Before they began to walk, everyone placed their memory flowers in the promise garden, signifying that they will never be forgotten, and their promise that they will do their part to stop the terrible disease.
“I can’t do anything about the disease for the people suffering,” Faddis said.
“But I can raise money and awareness so we can find a cure.”