LIHU‘E — Morgan Lopez of Hawai‘iUSA Federal Credit Union said the Alzheimer’s Walk on Kaua‘i will be in-person this year.
“It’s on my birthday,” Lopez said. “Last year, we held a virtual walk because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, we’ll be back in person.”
Walkers and contributors to the annual walk are able to register and contribute at alz.org/kauaiwalk.
“This is a lot simpler,” said Justin George of the Alzheimer’s Association of Hawai‘i. “We put everything together to make things a lot easier and simpler for everyone.”
To help launch this year’s walk campaign, George accepted a $3,000 contribution from the Hawai‘iUSA Federal Credit Union ‘ohana Thursday for the Kaua‘i walk that will take place Oct. 1 at Kapa‘a Beach Park.
All funds raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s help the Alzheimer’s Association of Hawai‘i with its care, support and research efforts in the battle against Alzheimer’s disease.
“The health and safety of our participants, staff and volunteers are our top priorities,” the association said. “Walk events will be designed with this at the forefront, including a venue layout that allows for physical distancing, hand-sanitizer stations, contact-less registration and other safety concerns.”
Additionally, the Alzheimer’s Association of Hawai‘i will continue to monitor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and county guidelines and make adjustments to the walk-day safety protocols, as needed.
The goal for the Kaua‘i’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is to raise $71,000, with the Hawai‘iUSA FCU contribution already helping to make a dent. The Kaua‘i walk has already registered 32 participants on 17 teams.
There are more than 6 million people in the United States who live with Alzheimer’s disease, states the Alzheimer’s Association website. One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
Alzheimer’s is the most-common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.
The Alzheimer’s Association addresses this crisis by providing education and support to the millions who face dementia every day while advancing research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the Alzheimer’s Association’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research, and is held in more than 600 communities across the country.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
