EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Brandon Wilde Senior Living Community hosted a 5K run and 1K walk Wednesday morning to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s and celebrate National Senior Health and Fitness Day.
More than 50 residents and team members participated in the event at 9 a.m., running side-by-side with volunteers from the community.
All dollars raised will go directly to the local Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Lewis Bandy, a resident participating in his third year, said he was the defending champion from last year. He brought his granddaughter Ellie Schuler to run with him.
Bandy said the events are important for the association with Alzheimer’s and for bringing neighbors together.
“We live here in a community and it’s nice to have neighbors come out and participate,” Bandy said. “We have a great time doing these events.”
Lisa Story, director of health services, sales and outreach for Brandon Wilde, said she has been involved in the Alzheimer’s walk for four years.
Story, a nurse for 26 years who has worked primarily with geriatrics, said it is important for people to stay active no matter how old they are.
“We get out and we move, we keep engaging and socializing with others to keep our minds going and our bodies going,” Story said.
Studies show that people who become sedentary and do not socialize can develop a dementia diagnosis earlier or sooner, Story said.
National Senior Health and Fitness Day is the nation’s largest annual senior health and wellness event with more than 100,000 seniors participating at local events across the country, according to the communtiy.
Organizers say that in Georgia, more than 188,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s. At least 391,000 caregivers dedicate 789 million hours of unpaid care.
The chapter supports methods of treatment, prevention and a cure.
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