The Pennyrile Walk to End Alzheimer’s is returning in the fall and at Thursday’s Hopkinsville Kiwanis Club meeting, Cindy Hancock from Pennyroyal Hospice spotlighted the event and how it supports those with the disease and fuels the search for a cure.
Along with working at Pennyroyal Hospice, Hancock is a member of the Alzheimer’s Association. She shared that in Kentucky, Christian County has the highest percentage of Alzheimer’s cases in those over the age of 65 at 12.4%.
Hancock is personally impacted by Alzheimer’s and Dementia; her mother has Vascular Dementia and her grandmother and uncle had Alzheimer’s. Hancock also expressed concern about caregivers and found that around half of the Kiwanians in attendance have had someone in their life with Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
For caregivers, Hancock says there are Alzheimer’s and Dementia caregiver support groups at Charter Senior Living and at the Pennyrile Area Development District Office.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is set for September 27 and starts at the Christian County Justice Center. Before the walk gets underway there will be an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. that morning.
Hancock says the walk increases awareness of the disease and is an opportunity to raise funds to hopefully find a cure someday.
Ahead of the walk, on June 30 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Charter Senior Living is hosting Boujee Bag Bingo. Tickets cost $40 which comes with five bingo cards. Folks can call Charter Senior Living at 270-962-2462 to get tickets and all the funds raised will go toward the Alzheimer’s Association.
Hancock says it may not happen in her lifetime, but she hopes a cure for Alzheimer’s is at least developed during her grandchild’s lifetime.
Folks can donate or register for the walk at act.alz.org.