Gearing up for the Meridian Walk to End Alzheimer's 2014 set for Saturday at Bonita Lakes are Cindy Luther, who is a member of the Alzheimer's Association of Mississippi's Board of Directors and a Walk Planning Committee spokesperson, center, with Mississippi State University, Meridian campus, employees Renee Gough, left, and Dr. Marian Swindell.

    More than 51,000 Mississippians are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease.

    One Meridian family wants to put a face to the progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain’s nerve cells, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills and behavioral changes.

    “We want people to see the face of Alzheimer’s through our mother,” said Cynthia Leonard, whose mother, Virginia Espey, is in the final stages of the disease that more than 5 million Americans are living with.

    “She’s 67 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 60. It’s difficult. Her body’s here, but her mind is not … She doesn’t know who she is,” Leonard said about Espey, who was a registered nurse for 24 years at Anderson Regional Medical Center. ” … It’s difficult knowing that she’s not going to get better.”

    Leonard and her brothers – Brian, Robert and Jeff Espey – will join their mother as she leads local residents in Saturday’s Meridian Walk to End Alzheimer’s 2014 at Bonita Lakes.

    Twenty-one teams have already signed up for the movement to reclaim the future for millions. However, local organizers are encouraging more residents to participate.

    “We hope to have 23 teams,” said Cindy Luther, who is a member of the Alzheimer’s Association of Mississippi’s Board of Directors and a Walk Planning Committee spokesperson.

    “We’ve had several teams who have been consistent participants in the 15 years that we’ve held the walk here – including Rush Heath Systems and the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) at West Lauderdale High School. It’s not too late to sign up and be a part of this cause.”

    The event will feature a 3-mile walk or run, or participants may take a 1-mile loop around the lake.

    “It’s a family-friendly walk,” Luther said. “Participants can do the full walk or run, or they can push their strollers or wheelchairs around the lake.”

    Hundreds of residents turned out for the Meridian Walk in 2013 and more than $13,000 was raised, contributing to more than $57.2 million raised nationwide for care, support and research efforts for those impacted by Alzheimer’s. For this year’s Meridian Walk, organizers have set a goal of $30,000.

    Luther, who is a nurse practitioner at North Hills Family Medical Clinic (Rush), said the walk is important for several reasons.

    “First, to raise awareness of the disease and the impact it has on those affected by Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. A lot of times when a person has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and they are placed in an institution or are homebound, people tend to forget about them because they are no longer in their social circles, they’re not going to club meetings or to church,” she said.

    “Also, the caregivers have a really hard job and need support. They need to know there are resources through the Alzheimer’s Association, and that people in the community do care about them.”

    Luther also noted the walk’s importance in raising funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

    “The ultimate goal of the Alzheimer’s Association is to end Alzheimer’s disease,” she said.

    According to the Alzheimer’s Association:

    • Every 67 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease.

    • Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States

    • 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

    • In 2013, 15.5 million caregivers provided an estimated 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care valued at more than $220 billion.

    For more information about Alzheimer’s Disease, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at www.alz.org

Want to go?

What: Meridian Walk to End Alzheimer’s 2014

When: Saturday. Registration, 9 a.m., opening ceremony, 9:45 a.m. Walk begins at 10 a.m. No fee required.

Where: Bonita Lakes Park

Information: Call Rachel Ruello, Walk Specialist, Alzheimer’s Association Mississippi Chapter, at (601) 987-0020.