You’re Invited – to join us at any of our 10 Memory Walks in September and October

What’s more energizing than a brisk walk with family and friends?  What’s more rewarding than to help support efforts to have a world without Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias?  How can you do both and also have a great time with thousands of other Illinoisans?

By joining us at any of the 10 Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Illinois Chapter’s Memory Walks – beginning Saturday, September 17 through Saturday, October 15.

Here are the dates and locations for the 10 upcoming Greater Illinois Chapter Memory Walks:

• Saturday, September 17 – Champaign

• Saturday, September 17 – Homer Glen

• Saturday, September 24 – Kankakee River Valley

• Saturday, September 24 - Rockford

• Saturday, September 24 – Springfield

• Sunday, September 25 – Chicago Lakefront

• Sunday, September 25 – McHenry County

• Saturday, October 1 – Joliet

• Saturday, October 1 – Normal

• Saturday, October 15 – Carbondale

 “Everyone’s invited to walk with us to raise awareness of the steps we’re taking to end Alzheimer’s disease,” said Lisa Lee, associate director of special events.  “We also welcome and value their help in raising dollars for programs, services and support for people with Alzheimer’s disease, their families and caregivers.  Last year, more than 7,500 participants walked with us and we raised more than $900,000.”

“Our support from individuals, teams and sponsors has never been greater, but so has the need for these programs and services,” Lee added.  “Today, more than half a million Illinois residents are affected by Alzheimer’s disease, with 210,000 people having the disease and hundreds of thousands more of their families and caregivers.  That’s why our goals for 2005 Memory Walks are to have more than 9,000 walkers and raise more than $1 million.”
 

2005 Memory Walk Sponsors and National Teams
We applaud the generosity and support from our national and local 2005 Memory Walk sponsors.  This year, the National Presenting Sponsor is Genworth Financial and the Official National Sponsors are Creative Memories and Kindred Healthcare. 

In the Greater Illinois Chapter area, we are fortunate that several local companies are sponsoring at the highest giving levels for the Memory Walks in Chicago, Rockford and Joliet.  These organizations include:  Whole Foods Market (Premiere Sponsor [$20,000] for the Chicago Memory Walk); Sam’s Club (Premiere Sponsor [$5,000] for the Joliet Memory Walk); AMCORE, P.A. Peterson Center for Health, and SwedishAmerican Health System (Partner Sponsors [$3,000 each] for the Rockford Memory Walk.

Several national organizations also have organized National Teams, including: Creative Memories, Genworth Financial, Kindred Healthcare, Health Occupation Students of America, Parrot Heads in Paradise, Inc. and Sigma Kappa Sorority.

Memory Walk is the Alzheimer’s Association’s largest national fundraising event for programs and services.  This year, Association Chapters will host more than 680 Memory Walks, 750 percent more than the very first set of Walks (9) in 1989 and more than four times the number of Walks (167) in 1993 when Memory Walk became a nationwide event.

For more information about Memory Walk and to register individual walkers and family or corporate teams, call 847.933.2413 or visit www.alzheimers-illinois.org/memorywalk.