Photo By CARRI GRAHAM Bill and Christina Nagy, along with their dog Orea, of Talbott, Tennessee pose for a photo before participating in Sunday’s Upper Ohio Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Wheeling Park.

WHEELING — Despite the dreary weather earlier in the day, the clouds cleared and the sun shined as hundreds of supporters came out to participate in this year’s Upper Ohio Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sunday at Wheeling Park.

More than 300 people, all sporting various colored shirts indicating the group they were with, walked in the event that aims to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s. The event has been held locally for more than a decade, helping to raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association, a nonprofit organization which helps support and research efforts for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Tate Blanchard, chair of the event, said they set a record this year in raising the most funds the walk has ever garnered. He said they raised more than $52,000, surpassing the organization’s original goal of $38,000.

“This is the most money we’ve ever raised through this event. … The great thing about the Alzheimer’s Association is that the majority of the money raised here locally, stays here locally to help with support and research for local Alzheimer’s patients and their families,” he said, adding that they offer support groups, a 24-hour hotline and educational materials for family members.

“Another large portion of the money does support clinical trials and research to try and develop a treatment and of course, a cure, for this terrible disease.”

The cause is personal to Blanchard who has experienced Alzheimer’s first hand with members of his family.

“My grandmother suffered from dementia when she was in her 80s, prior to her passing away. So we saw first hand exactly what that does to not only the patient, but to the family,” he said, adding that the disease also affects him on a professional level as his job with IC Care puts him in contact with senior citizens.

“A majority of the patients we care for have some form of dementia.”

Alzheimer’s affects $6.2 million Americans, Blanchard said, and 4,000 people locally.

Upon arrival, each person was given a “Promise Flower.” The flowers came in four colors each representing the reason the person was participating in the walk. Blanchard said the orange represents a supporter of the cause; the yellow represents someone who is supporting or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s; the purple represents someone who has lost someone to Alzheimer’s; and the blue represents a person living with the disease or another form dementia.

There is one additional flower – a white flower – which is given to a younger supporter. The flower is meant to symbolize the “first survivor” and a generation where Alzheimer’s is curable. This year’s honor went to 10-year-old Mason Delguzzo who proudly displayed the flower during the walk.

Participants came all over the Ohio Valley, and beyond, to support the cause and represent their groups and family members. Bill and Christina Nagy came all the way from Talbott, Tennessee, to support Bill’s mother, Ila, who resides in Lansing, Ohio and is living with dementia. The couple each wore matching purple shirts that said, “Ila’s Purple Hearted Warriors.”

“It’s a really good cause, and it’s good to see so much support for it,” he said.

Another family out of Flushing, Ohio, wore matching purple tie-dye shirts that said “Memories Matter” on the front and “Team Nester” on the back. Amanda Spano said the family was there to honor the memory of her late grandfather, Ralph Nester, who died from Alzheimer’s. This is the second time the family has come together as a group to walk in the Upper Ohio Valley Walk.

Jennifer George of Shadyside was with her two sons – 8-year-old Chandler and 4-year-old Thomas. She said she was representing Shadyside Health Center.

“We have a memory care unit at our facility so we’re walking for our residents,” she said.

This year’s sponsors include Edward Jones, CVS Health, IMA Clinical Research, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Enterprise, Stonerise, WesBanco, Highmark West Virginia, Walmart, Gold, Khourey & Turak, WTRF, Wheeling Park, and The River Network.

In year’s past the event has moved around to different locations in the area; however, organizers are hoping to make Wheeling Park its permanent location, and have even set next year’s walk date for Sept. 24, 2023, at the park.