Almost $1,000 was raised at a kickoff event at Emanar Cellars in the Battle Ground Village on May 2 as the wine bar launched an initiative to donate 10% of its sales on Tuesdays to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s for Southwest Washington will take place at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver on Sept. 24. Participants will travel along the waterfront to Beaches Restaurant and then back to the park in the 5-kilometer walk, said Jen Osojnicki, the manager of the event with the Alzheimer’s Association.
Osojnicki hopes to raise $150,000 this year. Those funds go to research, care services and to support education programs at the national level.
“In 2022, we put $310 million toward research,” Osojnicki said. “There are over 600 walks in the country.”
The Oregon and Southwest Washington chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association provides several educational programs in the Clark County area.
“We do them at local libraries, town halls and care communities here. Everything from 10 warning signs to effective communication to healthy ways to love your brain,” Osojnicki said.
If someone is unable to attend the programs, they can view the recordings online.
“Some people might be a little nervous going to a support group, but those people in that room have gone through what you’ve gone through or are going through it and you might get the help you need and then you might be able to help that next family that is just coming in,” Osojnicki said.
This year’s walk is expected to bring in 800 participants who share similar experiences with loved ones who have Alzheimer’s.
Battle Ground resident Lori Lindberg has a team for the walk named “The Little Violets.” Lindberg’s mother, Violet, has had Alzheimer’s for 12 years.
“By participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, I’m raising funds and awareness to advance the fight against this disease,” Lindberg stated on a fundraising page for her team and the association.
As of Friday, May 12, Lindberg raised $2,400 out of her $5,000 goal. Upcoming events for Lindberg’s team include a soon-to-be scheduled event at Galeotti’s Wine Cellar. An all-day raffle event will take place at Finishing Touch on July 7. Then on July 20, a party on the patio will be held from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Detroit Pizza in Battle Ground.
Those who want to join Lindberg’s team for the walk or to donate, can go online to bit.ly/41rtae1.
In Washington alone, Alzheimer’s is expected to increase in prevalence by 16.7% from 2020 to 2025, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
On Jan. 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication that helps reduce mild dementia from turning into Alzheimer’s. The medication, Leqembi, completed the confirmatory phase three trial required by the FDA and was approved to stay on the market. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services and insurance providers have not yet provided coverage for the medication, making it available only to those who can afford out-of-pocket payments.
“The FDA carefully reviewed the evidence for Leqembi before granting approval,” Joanne Pike, the Alzheimer’s Association president and chief executive officer, said. “CMS, in sharp contrast, denied coverage for Leqembi months ago before it had even reviewed this drug’s evidence. CMS has never done this before for any drug, and it is clearly harmful and unfair to those with Alzheimer’s. Without access to and coverage of this treatment and others in its class, people are losing days, weeks, months — memories, skills and independence. They’re losing time.”
Those interested in registering or donating for the walk in Vancouver this upcoming September can do so online at bit.ly/41x3zR7.
As of Friday, May 12, the event raised $67,011 out of the $150,000 goal.
