Megan Robinson
News and Web Editor
On October 10th close to 100 people walked Bair Stadium’s track for one and a half hours to remember those who suffer from Alzheimer disease Dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Memory Walk was hosted by the McDaniel’s Gerontology club and Copper Ridge Retirement Home in order to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia to college students, who rarely think of such degenerative mental diseases. “Every 70 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer disease or some form of Dementia,” said junior and Gerontology club president Lindsey Waqar.
Another purpose of the walk was to raise money for the National Alzheimer Association. Donation forms were available at the walk, and beforehand by contacting Waqar. All of the event’s walkers were encouraged, but not required, to donate to the cause. This year’s event raised $1,862, beating last year’s fundraising total of a little over $1,000.
The event featured a DJ, a table with information on the Copper Ridge Retirement Home, free food, and raffles. Some of the raffle prizes were gift baskets, a mini redskins helmet signed by Shawn Taylor, and a ravens football signed by David Reed.
Additionally, Jen Staub won a prize basket featuring McDaniel and Gerontology Club t-shirts, candy, gift cards, and more, for raising the most money; she raise $480. The Phi Delta Theta Fraternity raise the second highest amount of $246.
Students who attended thought the event was success. Aidaux Caro-Arty, junior and member of the club, said she was “really happy and excited” by the success of the event. Senior Lauren Fischetti said the club “did a great job” hosting the event.
An Alzheimer’s Memory walk previously was held in Carroll County, but until last year one hadn’t been hosted in the area for several years. Waqar and Ashlie Killian, the Gerontology Club’s Vice President, said they got the idea to host one again in Carroll County their freshmen year, when they spoke to a Alzheimer’s Association representative at the Study of Aging Organization fair that was hosted on McDaniel’s campus.
This is the second time the club has hosted the event, but it’s not the club’s second year. The club began four years ago, in 2006. The club focuses on the study of ageing, and topics that relate to it. Additionally, they host events, like the memory walk, on campus that relate to Gerontology. However, members do not need to be science or psychology majors to be a part of the club. Students of all majors can be involved in the club. “[Gerontology] can be applied to anything,” said Killian.
