The Northwest Metro Memory Walk, which begins this year at the Marietta First Presbyterian Church, is conducted every year to raise money for people in Cobb, Paulding and Cherokee counties suffering from Alzheimer's. The walk also helps raise money to fund research for the disease, which is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, said Kathy Lathem, resource development coordinator at Cobb Senior Services.
In Cobb, there are 8,000 residents living with Alzheimer's, and they require the help of 24,000 people, including family, friends and health care professionals, Lathem said.
East Cobb resident Connie Walton is one of those helpers. Her mother, Murree Tolbert, 84, has Alzheimer's. Tolbert was diagnosed with the disease about four years ago. Walton said she noticed the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms two years before her mother's diagnosis.
"She told me she was coming home from the market one day and got lost. The police had to bring her home," Walton said. "Things she normally would do she wasn't doing anymore. She would forget to pay her bills, wouldn't work in her garden."
Tolbert also forgot how to do everyday tasks.
"She would put her shoes on the wrong feet or her dress on backwards. She just couldn't function," Walton said.
Walton said she had her mother move into her home, and while she's happy to care for her, it isn't easy.
"My life has become secondary, but if I had to do it all over again, I would do the same thing. I have no regrets, but I'm not going to lie either and say it's not hard," Walton said. "It's hard watching her going downhill and there's nothing I can do about it."
Walton's life has changed radically since her mother's diagnosis. She's had to quit her job, sell her house and her health, too, has also hit a snag.
"There are nights that I don't sleep because she wakes up in the middle of the night all of the time. I had to resign my job. I had to sell my house because I had a limited income and couldn't pay my mortgage and bills," she said. "I used to volunteer at MUST Ministries, and now I go to them for resources."
About 450 people have signed up to take part in the Northwest Metro Memory Walk, said chair Amy Blankenship.
Participants can choose to walk either a one or three mile route for the event.
Residents can still register the day of the walk. There is no cost to register, but walkers must raise $150 in donations to receive a T-shirt. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., and opening ceremonies for the walk start at 9:45 a.m.
Marietta First Presbyterian Church is located at 120 Locust Street in Marietta. For more information or to register for the walk, go to www.georgiamemorywalk.org.
According to the organization's Web site, "Memory Walk is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $260 million for the cause."
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