LEXINGTON, Ky. — Like most nonprofits this year, the Walk To End Alzheimer’s organization went virtual this year. Over the past few months, the organization has raised over $120,000 to help fund research and free programs for people who have Alzheimer’s.
The Walk To End Alzheimer’s is one of the largest organizations that provides these funds for families and those taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s.
Walk Manager Molly Hogan says this year has been difficult with the pandemic but that didn't stop community members in Central Kentucky from virtually coming together to raise awareness.
“I think just getting people talking about Alzheimer's disease, talking about their journey with it and knowing that they're not alone. There's a lot of people that have gone through it, maybe just need that little extra love to say, 'oh you can talk about it too and it's okay because we're all in this together,'” Hogan said.
One reason Hogan got involved with the program was because of a family friend who passed away from the disease. Mallory Martinez lost her mom in February at the age of 62 after a ten year battle with Alzheimer’s.
“Mom was just the best mom ever. She was so kind, she was the least selfish person that I have ever known and will ever know. But she was just the best, she just made everything fun,” Martinez said.
Martinez says the first signs of memory loss were simple tasks like doing the laundry or errands during the day. It slowly progressed to the point where she could not move her body and was practically paralyzed before passing away.
“The physical part of it was really hard too, you kind of forget how to work your body, like she, her body became super stiff, and it was really hard for her to walk and she was like hunched over, and would walk like a 95-year-old little grandma. I mean, it was wild,” Martinez said.
Knowing that there is a community out there that's helping raise money for Alzheimer's research means a lot to Martinez and her family after seeing a loved one impacted by it.
“To have a community like that just to be behind these people is awesome and that's exactly what Alzheimer's needs because it's the, to me it's the cruelest disease that there is. And just to know that people are out there to help raise money and to support these families,” Martinez said.
The year's walk will officially end on Dec. 31, but the foundation collects donations year-round for its programs and research.