by Jonathan Weaver STAFF WRITER
Walk to End Alzheimer’s supporters gather in Meadowbrook Mall’s center court following Sunday’s event. Staff photo by Jonathan Weaver
Cindy Conway, left, and Colleen Linger, from the Harrison County Senior Citizens Center, demonstrate the activity mat functions.
BRIDGEPORT — About $26,000 was raised for Alzheimer’s Disease research during the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Sunday at the Meadowbrook Mall in Bridgeport.
According to Alzheimer’s Association event senior walk manager
Christina Beck, her father and an additional 38,000 people in West Virginia live with the degenerative brain disease.
“I walk for him,” Beck said.
Following the Bridgeport High School drumline’s lead, nearly 300 people walked with Beck through Meadowbrook Mall. The walk was about two miles in length.
Kendy Clutter, of Sardis, and at least 23 other senior citizens from the Harrison County Senior Citizens Center community locations raised more than $3,000 toward the $40,000 goal.
Clutter attended last year’s event at VA Memorial Park in Clarksburg. She said she saw many more people walk this year due to the indoor environment, including several she knew.
“My dad (Kenneth Garayt, of Canada) passed away from Alzheimer’s,” Clutter said. “It’s an insidious disease that first racks your mind and then your body. It’s awful.”
Senior Citizens Center board president Bill O’Field served as team captain and helped promote the center’s activity mats for those affected by the disease. Mats were made by center nurse Colleen Linger and the sewing seniors group.
“It’s just amazing the response we got. Last year, I had eight walkers and maybe $500, and this year 24 walkers and over $3,000,” O’Field said.
John Vash, Hearing Solutions Services president, said the Bridgeport location tried to build community awareness about the disease and the connection between dementia and hearing loss.
“One of my assistants brought this idea to me, and we wanted to participate,” Vash said.
Amanda Scott, marketing and outreach committee chair, volunteered for her first Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Sunday was the first Walk in Meadowbrook Mall, and Scott said she was “very gracious” the association was able to.
Also the Genesis Salem Center marketing and admissions director, Scott walked Sunday in memory of grandmother Frances Underwood Scott, who formerly lived in Greenbrier County.
“This definitely hits home on a personal level,” Scott said. “I’m very excited to be involved and give back to a cause that means a lot to me. It’s a really personal cause for everyone here today.
“It’s a disease that affects every socioeconomic background and every single corner of our communities. We really need to rally and find a cure.”
Walks are held throughout the state, including Oct. 6 at Mountaineer Mall in Morgantown. Registration for that walk begins at 1 p.m.
Donations toward research will be collected online at alz.org/wv through Dec. 31.
Staff Writer Jonathan Weaver can be reached at (304) 626-1446 or jweaver@theet.com. Follow me on Twitter @jweaver_theet