Over 250 Mobilians came to Spring Hill College for Mobile Bay’s annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s on November 13.
Together with the 60 teams who participated in the walk this year, a total of $43,124 was raised.
This was the second year that the walk was held on Spring Hill College’s campus. Participants from all over Mobile, including SHC students, came to the event.
“This is my third year participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” said senior Lorna Salbador. “I walk to support my aunt Evelyn who passed away from Alzheimer’s and raise money and support everyone else.”
She explained what she hoped the walk will accomplish. “Most importanly, hopefully, find a cure one day,” Salbador said.
Local resident Cailyn Thompson has hit the pavement for six years now. “My mawmaw who was my best friend and whom I saw three times a week was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when I was in middle school and she passed away last year. I walk for her and any granddaughter out there that doesn’t want to lose her grandmother,” Thompson said.
Chairman of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Committee Katie Felis said, “I wanted this event to honor everyone who has been affected and be a joyous occasion because it can be kind of lonely in this situation.”
Felis said the committee has been working for about a year to get sponsors and reach out to the Mobile community. “We hosted fundraisers at local restaurants and attended multiple Mobile Art Walks to get the word out and spread awareness about the disease. Most of the money raised goes toward funding research and the other percent goes to support groups and helping people with Alzheimer’s,” Felis said.
Members of the Sigma Kappa sorority on Spring Hill College’s campus helped raise money and hosted the event.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the sorority’s primary philanthropy event. To raise money, the chapter hosted several events throughout the semester, from a haunted house to individual campaign initiatives.
This event has been hosted for eight years and continues to fight against this disease. For more information about the fight against Alzheimer’s visit alz.org. To watch the full video go to Alzheimer’s Walk Story.
