Queens Fights to End Alzheimer’s at 6th Annual Walk

By Victoria Merlino

Dennis M. Walcott, president and CEO of the Queens Library and former New York City schools chancellor will appear as a special guest at the 2018 Queens Walk to End Alzheimer’s. // Photo courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association of NYC

They’re keeping up the fight.

The New York City chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will host its sixth annual “Queens Walk to End Alzheimer’s” on Saturday, Oct. 6 at Little Bay Park at 100 Totten Ave in Bay Terrace.  

The program begins at 9:45 a.m. and the two-mile walk kicks off at 10 a.m.

Participants at the Queens event will learn more about the disease and raise money to offer free resources, education and support to New Yorkers with Alzheimer’s and their care partners. There will be advocacy opportunities, clinical study enrollment and family friendly activities like a free photo booth.

“I support the Alzheimer's Association, New York City Chapter's Queens Walk to End Alzheimer’s because my mother died after developing stroke related dementia,” said Dr. Kenneth Ong, Queens Walk to End Alzheimer’s planning committee member.  “Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this disease.”

Across New York State, nearly 400,000 people have Alzheimer’s Disease, the state Department of Health reports. The DOH estimates that the number of people with Alzheimer’s will increase to 460,000 by 2025.

The disease is the ninth-leading cause of death in New York City, according to the 2016 Summary of Vital Statistics, the most recent report available on the city’s website. More than 20,000 people died from Alzheimer’s that year.

“The Queens Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a meaningful opportunity for New Yorkers to join together and fight this terrible disease,” said Christopher Smith, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter. “We are committed to creating a future without Alzheimer’s. The money raised at Saturday's event will fund research and support programs that will benefit all New Yorkers.”

Roughly 600 other communities around the world will host similar walks

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association website.

The incurable illness leads to memory loss and cognitive deficits that can impair function and impact daily life and activities.