MORE TEAMS NEEDED FOR 'MEMORY WALK'

Although a few teams already have signed up for the Sept. 30 Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk in Cape Girardeau, organizers say they hope more teams and individuals will register soon.

Memory Walk Outreach Coordinator Cheryl Klueppel said registration is off to "kind of a slow start" this year, but added she is not discouraged because registration often picks up in early September.

"We want to try to promote and recruit teams so that over the next three to four weeks they can start getting donations for the event," Klueppel said. "We're kind of moving in that direction."

Memory Walk is the only national fund-raiser for the Alzheimer's Association. Participants collect monetary pledges based on how far they walk during the event, which will take place at Capaha Park.

Donations typically are distributed to Alzheimer's education programs, support groups, information material and community outreach.

This is the fourth year for the Cape Girardeau walk. Participants raised about $11,800 last year and $7,500 in 1998. Statistics were not available for the 1997 walk.

About 90 people participated last year.

At least four teams have been confirmed for this year's walk, although individuals also are urged to participate.

"We're encouraging teams to encourage involvement, partnership and teamwork," she said. "Teams can be families or company teams or groups of families. Individual walkers also are invited."

Klueppel said the earlier people register and pick up their donation materials, the more money they will be able to raise for Alzheimer's.

"The benefit of registering early is for the information and materials to collect money," Klueppel said. "That's the purpose of the whole event -- to try to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association. Since that is kind of the focus of the event, we're hoping that people can get the information early and start collecting donations for the walk."

Registration for the walk begins at 8:30 a.m. The opening ceremony is at 9 a.m., and the walk begins after that.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, the disease will affect nearly 14 million Americans by the middle of the next century. The disease, which is fatal and incurable, destroys a person's memory, judgment and ability to reason.

"In Southeast Missouri, 145 seniors out of every 1,000 are at risk for Alzheimer's disease," said Kathleen O'Brien, president of the Alzheimer's Association of St. Louis.

"So many of us know someone whose life has been touched by AD. By raising funds and awareness, we are one step closer to our goal of a world without Alzheimer's."

For more information, call the Southeast Missouri Alzheimer's Association office at 332-8170 or 888-833-1641.