Catherine James, chief executive officer for the Alzheimer's Association, Central New York Chapter (left), Tompkins Cortland Community College President Orinthia Montague (center), and Deb Mohlenhoff, Tompkins Cortland Community College Assistant Vice President of college relationships (right).
Press release from Alzheimer's Association, Central New York Chapter
More than 100 area residents participated in this year’s Ithaca/Cortland, NY Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, participants walked as individuals and small groups on sidewalks, tracks and trails across Cortland and Tompkins counties, raising more than $4,600 to support the care, support and research programs of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“We missed coming together with all of our friends and supporters from across the region this year,” said Catherine James, chief executive officer for the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter. “Knowing that our walkers still donned their purple and took to their sidewalks, streets and neighborhoods to fight for an end to Alzheimer’s speaks to their commitment and passion for our cause.”
Walkers took part in an online opening ceremony led by Zenetta Chapman from Z95.5 radio before using a smartphone app to measure their progress on Walk day. After wrapping up their activity, walkers were able to drive through a view-only Promise Garden on the campus of Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden. The 2020 Alzheimer’s Association, Walk to End Alzheimer’s—Ithaca/Cortland, NY was sponsored by Guthrie.
Donations for Walk to End Alzheimer's can be submitted through December 31.
The health and safety of our staff, volunteers and event participants was our primary driver in our decision to move Walk to End Alzheimer’s from a large, in-person gathering to a socially-distanced event where walkers plan their own walk route. The online opening ceremony can be viewed at alz.org/walk.
More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease – the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 16 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In New York alone, there are more than 410,000 people living with the disease and nearly 1.1 million caregivers.
