John and Karen Wallace have been running from Marquette, Mich., to Biloxi to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease that affects many families all over the U.S. Alzheimer’s affects one in 10 individuals over age 65 and nearly half of those over 85.
The Wallaces are trying get the public to become aware of a new program that was launched in Marquette that will help aid Alzheimer’s patients.
“In Marquette, the Sheriff’s Department and the Alzheimer’s association have partnered to implement what’s called the Marquette County Life Tracker program that will enable rescue teams to track down people who have wandered off and gotten lost. This is done by registering people and giving them a personalized wristband that will send out a tracking signal every second of every day,” John Wallace said.
The signal can be tracked in the air or on the ground for several miles.
He said that it’s a great program because individuals suffering from the disease often wander off and get lost. In fact more than half of the people suffering from Alzheimer’s will wander and become lost at some point.
John and Karen Wallace got involved in this awareness campaign because of their own personal experiences.
“My wife works in a nursing home and she was exposed quite a bit to people with Alzheimer’s. It’s become something that’s near and dear to her now, and I’ve also had some association with it myself,” John Wallace said. “On our trip, almost everyone we’ve met knows someone or has someone in their family who suffers from Alzheimer’s.”
Wallace hopes that more communities would implement the Life Tracker program as he feels it’s a vital need for people dealing with Alzheimer’s.
After spending the night here in Meridian on Saturday, they picked up their memory walk and run Sunday at 8 a.m. headed in the direction of Quitman.
If you suspect a friend or loved one possibly has early signs of Alzheimer’s, you may take these symptoms into consideration.
Common Symptoms
• Memory Loss
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks
• Problems with language
• Disorientation to time and place
• Poor or decreased judgment
• Problems with abstract thinking
• Misplacing things
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Changes in personality
• Loss of initiative
For more information on Alzheimer’s disease or the Wallace’s memory walk, you can visit their Web site: togetherwerun.com.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Alzheimer’s Memory Walk
John and Karen Wallace raise awareness of a life affecting disease
- Local News
-
- Voters face Saturday deadline
- Site of sub commissioning changed
- Dulaneys to reign over 2012 Meridian Mardi Gras Weekend
-
Local law enforcement officials honored
State Rep. Greg Snowden said he remembered as a child looking up to those "men in blue."
He said police officers in uniform were larger than life, riding in their patrol cars and carrying guns to protect and serve the population. Today, he said he is still in great admiration of the men and women who put their lives on the line every day so that citizens can feel safe. -
MPD probes vehicle crash
Evidence of a mother's desperate attempt to save her children from harm were spread all over a car lot — and could be seen on her as well in the form of bruises, cuts and scrapes.
Tuesday night, a vehicle with three children inside crashed through a plate glass showroom floor window damaging four new cars and totaling the vehicle the children were in. -
Skeleton found in residence
Members of the forensics team of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) were called to a dilapidated home in Chunky to probe the discovery of a skeleton.
-
Police search for robbery suspects
Two men who reportedly robbed a woman at gunpoint in the parking lot of a local bank are still being sought.
Mike Vick, public information officer with the Meridian Police Department, said the two men approached a woman about 8 p.m. Tuesday at the ATM of Regions Bank on North Hills Street. Vick said one of the suspects was armed with a handgun and after taking an undetermined amount of cash and the victim's car keys, the two suspects fled on foot. -
City cuts payment to Watkins
The Meridian City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to cut their monthly payment to David Watkins, project developer of Meridian's new police station, by $9,999 until work resumes on the project.
The order, made during the Meridian City Council meeting Tuesday morning, included a mutual agreement between the councilmen and Watkins to reduce the project developer's monthly consultant fee of $10,000 to $1, effective Tuesday. -
Crews work on gasoline pipeline
If you hear a loud, booming sound early today, between 4 a.m.-10 a.m., there is no cause for alarm.
Workers with Plantation Pipeline will be performing maintenance work on their 30-foot gasoline pipeline in the Meridian area to accommodate the widening of Highway 493. The location of the work activity will be at Highway 493 North and Oak Hill Baptist Church, just inside the city limits. -
Team Spirit
- More Local News Headlines
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
