It’s Easy and Fun to Participate in 2005 Memory Walks
Here’s a birds-eye view of our 2005 Memory Walk festivities – from registration and event features to a sampling of creative ways participants and sponsors are encouraging people to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and get involved with us to end Alzheimer’s disease in our lifetimes. 

Registration
There is no registration fee to participate in Memory Walk and we welcome individual walkers and teams of family members, friends and co-workers.  For more information about Memory Walk and to register call your local Chapter office or visit www.alzheimers-illinois.org/memorywalk.

2005 Memory Walk Features
All of our Memory Walks offer amenities and activities for participants and sponsors, including:

• Entertainment

• Games and contests

• Refreshments

• Display areas for photos or posters about those in whose memory or honor people are walking!

• Displays from Memory Walk sponsors

• As a “thank you” for donors’ commitment, we offer a choice of items by donation category.  Visit www.alzheimers-illinois.org and click on “prizes” to view items.  The items are not cumulative.  Participants will receive redemption certificates following the walk.

Creative Ways to Encourage Alzheimer Education, Awareness, Support
You just can’t beat Memory Walk participants and sponsors when it comes to creative ways to encourage people to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and what they can do to help us put an end of Alzheimer’s in our lifetime, and how to live a brain-healthy life.  We applaud their ingenuity, commitment and creativity; we also are fortunate to have so many individuals, teams and sponsors stepping forward to share their terrific ideas.

• Whole Foods Market Serves Up Savings, Workshops
  Whole Foods Market, in addition to being the premiere sponsor for the Chicago Memory Walk, is hosting a Community Support Day at select Chicago-area stores – and – hosting three Maintain Your Brain™ workshops for those interested in living a brain-healthy lifestyle.

  • Community Support Day
    On Tuesday, September 20, Whole Foods Market will donate five percent of sales at stores in these locations to the Greater Illinois Chapter for the Chicago Memory Walk: Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Deerfield and Evanston.

  • Maintain Your Brain™: How to Live a Brain Healthy Lifestyle Workshops
    Whole Foods Market will host three 90-minute workshops (one each in October, November and December) for everyone interested in brain health and featuring information on how the brain works and strategies and scientifically rooted advice on lifestyle choices to keep memory sharp.  Visit our Web site after Labor Day for workshop dates, locations and registration information. 

Creative Ways Individuals Support Memory Walk, Encourage Alzheimer Education, Awareness
Cassandra, Amy and many other Memory Walk Team Captains and Team Members have created Web pages with information on the people in whose name they are walking, as well as their members and team goals. 

Click here to visit these Web pages.  From this page, select a Memory Walk location and click on the link at the bottom of that box.  Then, you can link to Memory Walk Team Web pages.

Here are two examples of the poignant, inspiring and motivating vignettes you’ll find on these pages.

• Cassandra already has completed the first legs of her Memory Walk – in three hikes, she walked 51 miles (to match her age) in memory and honor of the mother of one of her favorite high school teachers who had Alzheimer’s.  She plans to finish her Walk during the Chicago Memory Walk on September 25.  Click here to view her Web page.

• Amy, her sisters and several friends – all of whom have family members with Alzheimer’s and all who are determined to make a difference – last year formed a Memory Walk team to raise money to fight Alzheimer’s.  The team is back again this year with members also hosting a pre-event for friends and neighbors on September 8,  with proceeds going toward their $5,000 team goal.  Click here to see her Team’s Web page.

Creative Ways Teams Support Memory Walk, Encourage Alzheimer Education, Awareness
Here are just two examples of ways local businesses are helping to spread the word about Memory Walk and Greater Illinois Chapter programs and services for those living with dementia.

• Businesses Sponsor “Forget-Me-Not” Card Program
  Look for purple forget-me-not flower cards at local merchants – they are supporting Memory Walk and the Greater Illinois Chapter and are giving you the opportunity to do the same.  Forget-Me-Not flowers are only $1 each and funds are added to the Chapter’s Memory Walk donations to be used for local programs, services and support for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.  To participate in the Memory Walk Forget-Me-Not program, contact your local Alzheimer’s Association - Greater Illinois Chapter office.

Pioneer Press Memory Walk Supplement
Look for an eight-page supplement on Memory Walk in all of the 64 Pioneer Press newspapers on September 7 and 8.