The bright fall colors at Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville were joined by a sea of purple Sunday morning, as a record crowd walked to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s disease.
“This is a record-breaking year, we’re over 300 more (participants) than last year,” said Cassie Petoskey, event manager for the Greater Chicago Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association’s ninth annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Petoskey said more than 1,200 people walked the 3.2 miles at Sunday’s event, and almost all of them have a connection to the disease, whether it is a relative or a friend. The effort had raised $175,000 in online donations as of mid-morning Sunday, and another $15,000 to $20,000 was expected to be raised Sunday.
“The funds raised today will go back directly to the people of Illinois living with the disease,” said Petoskey, explaining that the donations are earmarked for treatment and research.
“Sadly, the number of people being diagnosed is increasing. Most people have a connection to it. It’s why the events are getting so large,” she said. “And that’s great because now people don’t have to feel alone.”
Petoskey, who serves as the manager of special events for the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, called the local turnout “amazing.”
“It’s a great community out here,” she said.
Bob and Sandy Blake of Grayslake participated in the roughly 5K walk for the first time Sunday, and finished it in about 45 minutes.
“We are walking on behalf of my two parents, who both had dementia and passed away,” said Bob Blake, adding that “it looks like a good turnout. It’s a good family thing.”
Blake said he and his wife plan to make the walk an annual event in the future.
“Absolutely. For sure,” he said.
Holly Chin of Prairie View said she was walking in the event for the third year, and for the first time with her husband, Lee, and 4-month-old son, Samuel, who hitched a ride with dad in a baby carrier.
Chin said she has known her boss 14 years and both of his parents developed Alzheimer’s.
“I knew his parents. His father passed away and that really touched me,” she said. “That kind of lit the fire.”
Debbie Shandling of Highland Park said her sister, Laura Laney, died of the disease in 2009.
Alongside her mother, Bernice Krichezsky of Chicago, and other family members, Shandling was walking to raise money and honor her sister.
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“One of the last things she said to me was, ‘Don’t forget me.’ So I do this for her,” Shandling said. “I sent out just one email and raised over $1,500. People don’t have to donate big amounts. Even if it’s smaller, it all adds up. It’s so important.”
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