Annual Alzheimer's walk sees changes prompted by Covid-19

WORCESTER - The Worcester County Walk to End Alzheimer's Disease took on a new look this year as the COVID-19 pandemic forced changes needed for the safety of those involved.

Instead of one walk through the Burncoat area of Worcester, small groups of people took to their own neighborhoods to raise money for Alzheimer's care, support and research.

Jessica Ethier of Uxbridge who participated in the walk in Worcester said she walks every year in honor of her grandmother Margaret Barron, a mother of nine who suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

"She was a registered nurse who worked with people who had Alzheimer's," she said. "Seeing the disease affect someone you love is just so heartbreaking."

Ethier was one of several people helping out at the drive-through Promise Garden set up at 100 North Parkway. The flowers in the garden that lined the sides of the road were daisy flower spinners "planted" in memory of those who suffered from Alzheimer's disease and their families. As a safe alternative to the usual events, people were encouraged to drive through and remember loved ones. While cars drove through, small groups of people walked by along the sidewalk that leads to Burncoat High and Middle schools.

"To do the walk is a way to give back to those directly affected," Ethier said.

Dawn Sneade of Worcester said her mother was diagnosed with the disease in 2015.

"I've done the walk every year since," she said. "She passed away in January."

Sneade said raising money for the cause is important to her.

"This has been my best year," she said.

Sneade said she had raised more than $18,000 and was out walking in the area of Burncoat High School with friends Kym Jarvenpaa and Societe Caponette.

Most of those involved in the walk were in someway affected by the disease.

David Price of Mendon said he has been involved since 2010. He said he got involved in honor of his wife, Sylvia's, mother Emalie Paglioni who grew up in Jersey off the coast of France where she work as a nurse. She was later a health aide in the United States before developing Alzheimer's disease. She died almost seven years ago.

Price said there were major changes this year.

Normally this is a vibrant event," he said.

In a normal year, the event would have a rally-like opening ceremony and a large crowd walking. This year the opening ceremony was online and the walkers were dispersed.

John Sotir of Northboro handles logistics for the event. He said he does it in memory of his father, Sam Sotier who died in 2015 of complications associated with dementia. He said it was difficult for him but worse for his mother.

"For her, it was brutally difficult," he said.

Sotir said the challenge this year was keeping people engaged at a time when all of the normal events were canceled or held differently.

Catherine Leary of the Alzheimer's Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter said the goal this year was $489,000. By walk day they had raised more than $271,000 or 56 percent of their goal. She said the walk would continue to collect money as other walkers planned to go out.

"We're still raising donations," she said.

The association offers many services to families and patients, including education programs and an early onset support group.

Leary said the walk is important to raise money for research and the care of those with the disease, but also for the people directly affected.

"It means so much to those affected by this terrible disease to know that participants and teams are out there walking and raising funds to help provide critical care and support, and advance research toward methods of treatment, prevention, and ultimately a cure," she said.

Those looking for more information may find it at www.act.alz.org.

___

(c)2020 Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, Mass.

Visit Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, Mass. at www.telegram.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.