Published: September 29, 2008 10:44 am         

Walking with a purpose

Carman Williams

cwilliams@weatherforddemocrat.com

Weatherford residents were on the move for a good cause Saturday morning.

The Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk, a nationally held event, hosted its local walk on the Weatherford College campus, where teams came together for a one-mile, noncompetitive trek.

Each team has been collecting donations for the Weatherford Memory Walk’s $30,000 goal.

The total stood just under $14,000 the day before the walk, but money will continue to be collected until the final North Texas Memory Walk is held at the end of October.

According to its Web site, the Memory Walk “is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research.”

More than $230 million has been raised for Alzheimer’s since 1989.

Volunteers expected close to 250 people to participate in the event, most of whom had a personal connection to the Alzheimer’s cause.

Brock Hibbs, a volunteer team leader, walked in memory of his grandfather, Tim Norton, who died of Alzheimer’s.

“He was more than a grandfather,” said Hibbs, who still has fond memories of the grandfather who helped him with school projects before succumbing to the disease.

Another volunteer, JoAnn Parker, had a similar connection.

“I’ve dealt with Alzheimer’s twice in my life, with family members, so it’s very important for me to support the Alzheimer’s Association,” she said.

     

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