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Families in Miami joined together for National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Thousands filled loanDepot Park in Miami to raise awareness and funds for a disease affecting one in eight Floridians age 65 and older.
Participants walked through the park carrying colorful Promise Garden flowers symbolizing their personal connections to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Blue flowers represented those living with the disease, yellow honored caregivers, purple remembered loved ones lost, and orange showed support for a future without Alzheimer’s and all other dementias.
Bobby Kussell held an orange flower in support of his sister living with frontotemporal dementia.
“Saturday’s walk was inspirational,” Kussell said. “It felt so good to share family stories with so many who attended. Together we will end this disease.”
More than 7 million Americans are estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s, a progressive brain disease that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Miami-Dade County has the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in the country. There are an estimated 76,600 residents over age 65 — or 16.6 percent of the population — are living with Alzheimer’s in Miami-Dade County.
Continued funding for research has led to new FDA-approved treatments that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. For the first time, families have hope for more time with their loved ones. However, these treatments are only effective in the early stages of the disease, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis.
“This walk is so important because it brings our community together to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and the impact it has on families every day,” said David Chaves Lopez, Director for Walk to End Alzheimer’s Miami. “By participating in this event, we’re not only funding critical research and treatments, but also helping people recognize the warning signs and understand where to turn for help. Awareness is the first step toward earlier diagnosis, better support and, ultimately, a cure.”
The event was presented nationally by Edward Jones and locally by Independent Living Systems; Warren Henry Auto Group; Sigma Alpha Mu-Delta Zeta; and HealthSun Health Plus. To date, participants have raised more than $720,000 to benefit care, support, research, advocacy and awareness initiatives through the Alzheimer’s Association Southeast Florida Chapter.
Donations are being accepted through Dec. 31 at alz.org/MiamiWalk
Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s Association®
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
