500 expected at Alzheimer's fundraiser

The Alzheimer's Association-Greater Missouri Chapter is hosting its 21st annual Walk to End Alzheimer's fundraiser Sept. 15 at Cape County Park North in Cape Girardeau.

Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by a brief ceremony, walk and refreshments.

This year's goal is $105,000, according to walk director Greg Sciuto, and as of Wednesday afternoon, 192 individuals and 54 teams have raised nearly $34,500.

Sciuto said he expects 500 participants.

"We make sure we honor those that are living with the disease and those that we have lost," he said. "Ultimately, we come out and walk for a day when Alzheimer's is a thing of the past. We walk to find a cure to end Alzheimer's disease."

Proceeds will go back into the organization to provide resources and to fulfill individual needs within Southeast Missouri, he explained.

Walk to End Alzheimer's has been around for 30 years, Sciuto said, and 21 of those years the chapter "has called Cape Girardeau home."

Out of a 96-county territory, there are only about 50 employees to handle the day-to-operations, Sciuto said. It's a volunteer-led organization and the chapter staff does not equal the number of counties served, he said.

So it relies on communities such as Cape Girardeau, Sciuto said, to provide funds to help build programming and to be able to serve families in the area living with Alzheimer's.

"It also helps us advocate for additional funding and additional research dollars, and it allows us to accelerate research," Sciuto said. "The Walk to End Alzheimer's is kind of the 'fuel to the engine that drives us.'"

He said the people of Cape Girardeau "care and they show up," so Sciuto said he is proud to dedicate time in hosting the event on behalf of the 21 years of community support.

Sciuto said the organization is made possible in part by a volunteer-led walk planning committee in Cape Girardeau. Member responsibilities include contacting possible sponsors, acquiring food donations from multiple vendors and helping with carnival games at fundraising events, he said.

He said there is no registration fee for Saturday's event because he doesn't want that to be a barrier for somebody attending and showing support. Sciuto also doesn't want a registration fee to possibly dissuade someone from attending and seeing the community's evident support for those living with Alzheimer's.

"And at the same time, with Alzheimer's, it's not always easy to get out of your house for long periods of time," he said. "You may have a loved one that you're caring for that is homebound, and you have to find someone to stay with them for the time you're out celebrating at the walk."

Sciuto said, "We try to pack a lot into the two to three hours that we have folks out. It's a concise day; it's not a short day. We get a lot in."

Advance donations can be made online and additional details can be found at www.alz.org/walk.

jhartwig@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3632