Tazewell and Peoria Walk to End Alzheimers

Area residents can take the first step in uniting in a movement to end Alzheimer’s disease by picking up a Walk Booklet, including a registration form, for the upcoming Tazewell Walk to End Alzheimer’s at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 at Mineral Springs Lagoon in Pekin, and the Peoria Walk to End Alzheimer’s at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 at Liberty Park on the Peoria Riverfront.

Last year, more than 950 people total participated in the two walks, raising more than $100,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association-Central Illinois Chapter. This money is vital to funding the chapter’s programs and services for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and their families. It also supports crucial Alzheimer’s research efforts and clinical trials.

More than 5.4 Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, which is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the only one that cannot be prevented, treated or cured. By midcentury, that number is expected to triple to 16 million if no treatment or cure is found.

Everyone is welcome to walk, although donations are encouraged. Participants are encouraged to register online at www.alz/illinoiscentral or by calling the Central Illinois Chapter toll free at 800.272.3900. The online tools make it easy to start or join a team. The Central Illinois Chapter puts on eight walks total throughout its 20-county area.

All participants who raise $100 or more will receive a commemorative Walk to End Alzheimer’s T-shirt. And for every $100 raised, one’s name will be entered into a drawing for an iPad 3 at the walk in which they participate.  

The 2012 Walk Booklet/programming guide is available at the following businesses:

Morton: Renew You Day Spa & Studio; Home Instead

East Peoria: East Peoria Chamber of Commerce; Burger Barge

Pekin: Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce; Herget Bank; Pekin Moose; World of Vitamins; Curves; Moods by Michael Creative Hair Design; Courtesy Laundry & Dry Cleaners

Peoria: Auto Owners Insurance Co.; Methodist Medical Center; First Mid Illinois Bank & Trust; Advanced Tech Services; Heartland Bank & Trust; Tazewell County Resources Center; RLI; Hagerty Steel & Aluminum; Burkland Distributing; Busey Bank; South Side Bank; River City Construction; Crittenton Center; CEFCU, all locations; Illinois Mutual; Hasselberg, Williams, Grebe, Snodgrass & Birdsall; PARC; Goodwill Industries; Klause Radio; Wells Fargo Advisors; Enterprise Rent-A-Car, all locations; Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Inc.; Center For Prevention of Abuse; Ginoli & Company; HCH Administration; Lakeview Museum; Westervelt, Johnson, Nicoll, and Keller; Morgan Stanley; Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s) is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. The Association’s mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.