Walk to end Alzheimer's - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

John Berry to Perform at Tifton's WALK TO END ALZHEIMERS TM Beginning at Red Hill Tennis Complex Saturday, Sept. 29. Participants Raise Critically Needed Funds for Alzheimer's Care, Support and Research.

During the opening ceremony, Berry will perform songs from his new album, "Real Man. Real Life. Real God." The Walk will be a three-mile stroll through the ABAC Campus, along shaded sidewalks, with the ABAC Fillies Softball Team providing course directions. No minimum donation is required to attend or participate. Children and strollers welcome.

The Tifton Walk is one of three walk fundraisers for the South Georgia Region of the Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter, and one of 20 in the state. Valdosta's Walk was held Sept. 15, with about 300 walkers raising $27,400 so far. Currently, the Tifton Walk has 21 teams and has raised $35,000. The Albany Walk will be held Oct. 13, with 28 teams having raised $68,900. Fundraising will continue to be credited to the Walk through November.

The local sponsors of the event include Presenting Sponsor -- DOCO Credit Union. The Gold Sponsors are Cypress Pond Assisted Living at Home, Cypress Pond Assisted Living, Dogwood Senior Health Center, Keystone Foods, Maple Court Senior Residence, Southern Care Assisted Living, South Georgia Medical Center, The Albany Herald, The Tifton Gazette, and Tift Regional Medical Center. The Silver Sponsors are La Quinta Inn & Suites, Prince Automotive Group, Tender Care Inc., Vansant & Corriere, and Winchester Paint & Body. National Sponsors are Brookdale Senior Living, Emeritus Senior Living, Genworth Financial, Sunrise Senior Living, and The TJX Companies (TJMaxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, TKMaxx Winners, HomeSense.)

"There has never been a greater need for the citizens of South Georgia to join in the fight against Alzheimer's disease by participating in Walk to End Alzheimer's," said Bonnie Sayles, Tifton Walk Committee chair and director of programs and services for the Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter. "Funds raised will provide care and support services to the 200,000 residents of Georgia living with Alzheimer's, while also contributing to advancing critically needed research."

Call the Alzheimer's Association to volunteer or for more information at 388-8219 or 1-800-272-3900. Anyone may start a team, join a team, be an individual walker or donate to the cause by visiting the web site at www.georgiawalk.org and scrolling down to the Tifton walk. The mailing address is Alzheimer's Association, 315 W. Second St., Tifton, GA 31794.

Kettle Korn Kreations will be selling bags of popcorn at the Walk, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Whippersnappers team's fundraising efforts. Geneva's Gems team will be selling silver and purple Alzheimer's bracelets. Also, Papa John's Pizza of Tifton is sponsoring an Alzheimer's Association Pizza Day on Sept. 29. The company will donate the net profits of all orders placed and designated for Alzheimer's on that day. Callers must call 391-7272 and tell the order taker that the order is for Alzheimer's.

Alpha Gamma Rho will hold a Barrel Race for the Cure benefit event beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the ABAC rodeo.

On Oct. 4-6, the Tifton Ruby Tuesday's is having a GiveBack event, sponsored by the Tift Regional Medical Center team, during which a flyer must be presented for 20 percent of the proceeds to go to the Alzheimer's Association. Copies of the flyer will be given out at the Walk and are available at the Alzheimer's Association office at the Leroy Rogers Senior Center.

The Whippersnappers Team is sponsoring a Deep Purple Alzheimer's Benefit Poker Run, starting at 9 a.m. Oct. 6 at Tifton's Harley Davidson.

The Walk to End Alzheimer's is more than a walk. It is an experience for hundreds of participants in the 35 counties served by the South Georgia Region to learn about Alzheimer's disease and help with this critical cause, from advocacy opportunities, the latest in Alzheimer's research and clinical trial enrollment to support programs and services. Each walker will also join in a meaningful ceremony to honor those affected by Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a growing epidemic and is now the nation's sixth leading cause of death. As baby boomers age, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease will rapidly escalate, increasing well beyond today's estimated 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer's.

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 Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Its 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.

Grammy-nominated singer and Tift area resident John Berry has confirmed that he will sing at Tifton's fourth annual Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, at the Red Hill Tennis Complex.