OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi faculty, staff and students,
as well as members of the surrounding community, are invited to
participate in the Oxford Alzheimer’s Memory Walk on Halloween morning.
The event begins at 9 a.m. Oct. 31 in front of the Lyceum and
culminates with dedication of the “Bardo of Rose” sculpture, an
abstract piece that honors those touched by Alzheimer’s disease,
located on the grounds of University Museum at Fifth Street and
University Avenue.
“Memory walks are the nation’s largest
events to raise awareness and funds for care, support and research to
end Alzheimer’s,” said Jo Ann O’Quin, UM professor of social work.
O’Quin is a founding member of the Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group
and on the Board of the Mississippi Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association.
Walk participants typically register in teams of 10 to 12
members and raise funds using a variety of projects and tools supported
by the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Team captains are yet seeking participants and supporters for
the event,” said Bill Arnold of Oxford, co-chair of the Memory Walk.
“Even if someone cannot participate in the walk, individuals can join
teams to assist in fundraising and awareness.”
Besides joining a team, individuals can participate by donating
to a team member or in honor or memory of a loved one at http://www.alz.org/ms. Participants who raise at least $25 get a Memory Walk T-shirt and are encouraged to attend the event.
Progressive and irreversible, Alzheimer’s disease is the most
common form of dementia, a group of disorders that impairs mental
functioning.
It is estimated that about 5 million Americans and 53,000
Mississippians suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, with about 360,000
people newly diagnosed each year.
“Every 70 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s,” O’Quin said.
“Alzheimer’s costs more than $148 billion each year in direct and
indirect costs and creates huge burdens for caregivers.”
The disease typically affects about 10 percent of people ages 65
and older, and the prevalence doubles roughly every 10 years after age
65. Up to half of the population ages 85 and older may have
Alzheimer’s. Because the population of the U.S. is aging, the number of
people with Alzheimer’s is expected to continue growing unless
something can be done to stem the rise.
“Alzheimer’s is a global fight,” O’Quin said. “By working together, we can win.”
To sign up, for more information or for assistance related to a disability, contact O’Quin at 662-915-7199 or joquin@olemiss.edu, or Arnold at 662-719-2954 at barnold@ms.metrocast.net
For more information about the Mississippi Alzheimer’s Association, visit http://www.alz.org/ms.