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Memory Walk in
Houghton - 2008
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HOUGHTON -
Saturday September 6, 2008
On
the MOVE to end Alzheimer’s!
In spite of what looked like a potentially
rainy morning The Memory Walk
fundraiser event went on as scheduled. |
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The walk for memory took place in Houghton Saturday. The
day began at 8:00 AM
with participants
registering and hearing from organizers and State
Representative Mike Lahti. September 6th. Registration
will took place at the Super 8 Motel and begins at 8:00
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The three mile walk began at 9:00am
Walkers started at The Super 8 Motel and
walked along Houghton's beautiful waterfront
up to the City park and RV campgrounds on
the north end. The walkers then walked
south back to the motel.
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The walk is a pledge based event that raises
money money and awareness for the
Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's
Association Memory Walk® is the nation's
largest event to raise awareness and funds
for Alzheimer care, support and research –
and it calls on volunteers of all ages to
become champions in the fight against this
fatal disease. Since 1989, Memory Walk has
raised more than $230 million for the cause.
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading
voluntary health organization in Alzheimer
care, support and research, it is
dedicated to finding prevention methods,
treatments and an eventual cure for
Alzheimer’s.
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Members of entire families
regardless of age participated in this important event! |
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| a large number of participants turned
out for this event. Above - two walkers approached the
bridge underpass, where the two ladies (below) were
giving out bottles of water to the walkers. It takes
many people volunteering for many jobs to make a
fundraiser successful. a large number of
participants turned out for this event. Below two
walkers approached the bridge underpass, where the two
ladies (below) were giving out bottles of water to the
walkers. It takes many people volunteering for many jobs
to make a fundraiser successful. |
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| Below - the end of the walkers. Three
participants arrive at the motel for refreshments, door
prizes and information on Alzeimers. |
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| Below some of the door prizes awarded to
the memory walkers. |
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| There was a great deal of literature
available for those people seeking more information on
Alzeimers. |
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| above - Seated in rear to the right of
Marja is Sanfred Mattila. Sanfred lucked out and won a
loaf of "delicious Nisu" . Other door prizes were
given out to those who participated in the three mile
walk. |
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| above - front row group entered as
"Toivola Seniors", they raised $1842. They
promised to do even better next year. Overall the event
raised $5500. The M-Bank in Ontonagon also raised
money and awareness for the event. |
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| above right -
Marja Salani-Aging
Service Specialist from Copper Country Mental Health,
she provides respite services for the aged and family
support.
above left - Phil Poutinen, who works for the
Alzheimers Michigan Chapter, and has an office in
Marquette.
The office is located at: 710 Chippewa Square, Marquette
49855.
The phone number is 906-228-3910
Copper Country
Community Mental Health Services has a great website to
direct you to the proper resources.
www.cccmh.org
Marja and Phil
told the group about the "Wrap-around- Grant" That
enables our area to receive funding for the many
projects of local groups that deal with issues relating
to Alzheimers and other Dementia diseases. The grant has
been awarded to only one other U.P. location. The local
group deals largely with the issue of respite care.
As Marja said,
care-giving is a difficult and heart wrenching
situation. Many families choose to provide home care for
the Alzheimer patient. The care-givers become
housebound. Phil spoke about the friends of care-givers
staying away once someone is diagnosed with Alheimers or
other Dementia disease. As a result the caregiver is not
only house bound, but is also without the friends and
visitors coming to visit. |
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| Hopefully, the youngsters who
participated in Saturday's walk, can look forward to a
time when Alzeimers is a thing of the past. |
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