Orleans County Walk to End Alzheimer’s topped $32K

Provided photo: Medina Mayor Mike Sidari joins Nicole Tuohey and her Mary Lou Tuohey in cutting symbolic elephant links to start the Orleans County Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept. 9 at State Street Park in Medina. Nicole sold the elephant links for $1 and she raised about $2,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association Western New York Chapter.

Press Release, Alzheimer’s Association Western New York Chapter

MEDINA – The Orleans County Walk to End Alzheimer’s exceeded its goal for 2023, raising $32,485 to date, a 22% increase over 2022.

The walk was held on Sept. 9 at State Street Park in Medina and donations were accepted until the end of the year.

 “As a co-chair and a longtime committee member of the Orleans County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, I am thrilled with the success we’ve seen this year,” said Medina resident Mary Lou Tuohey. “More than 200 people attended our very fun and meaningful event in September, and we raised an unprecedented amount thanks to our hardworking committee members and very generous Orleans County community! It was a beautiful day all around.”

Lynn Westcott, senior director of development for the Alzheimer’s Association Western New York Chapter, acknowledged the increase in support.

“We are extraordinarily grateful for the dedication and hard work of the Orleans County committee and the continued, generous support from the community,” she said.

Westcott added that the funds raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s ensure that the many programs and services the Alzheimer’s Association provides in Orleans County remain free to those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, along with their caregivers. In addition, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s funds critical research and advocacy efforts which have resulted in new treatments for people living in the early stage.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including 410,000 in New York State, with 546,000 individuals in New York serving as unpaid caregivers for those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

This year’s WNY Walk to End Alzheimer’s was presented by Uniland. Local Orleans County sponsors included UnitedHealthcare, FMC Middleport and Talis Equity.

The six Walks to End Alzheimer’s held throughout Western New York raised nearly $850,000 in 2023. To get involved with the 2024 Orleans County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, contact Westcott at lwestcott@alz.org or 716.440.4251.