PROVIDENCE – This year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Rhode Island will include four events spread across the state.
Money raised from the walks goes to the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter, which educates and provides support services for Rhode Islanders who have been diagnosed with the disease, as well as their caregivers and family members.
Walks are scheduled for:
- Misquamicut State Beach, Westerly, Sept. 14, emceed by WJAR-TV NBC 10 reporter Sam Read.
- Fort Adams State Park, Newport, Sept. 15, emceed by Rep. Deborah Ruggiero, D-Jamestown.
- Fred Benson Town Beach, Block Island, Sept. 22, emceed by Lt. Gov. Daniel J. McKee.
- Roger Williams Park, Providence, Oct. 6, emceed by WPRI-TV CBS 12 news anchor Mike Montecalvo.
The group hopes to raise a total of $550,000 from the four events, with a goal of $300,000 for the Providence walk alone. Up to 4,000 participants are expected, said Donna Kirwan, a spokeswoman for the state’s Alzheimer’s Association chapter.
In Rhode Island, more than 23,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s, according to the association, and 53,000 people are serving as caregivers.
“I am walking in the Providence Walk to End Alzheimer’s to honor the family members we’ve lost and those currently afflicted with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers,” said Jacqueline Waldon, chair of the Providence walk and Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter board president. “I want to be a part of the solution to end Alzheimer’s disease in my lifetime. We have to keep working to raise funds and advocate until the first survivor is found.”
