By By Steve Gillespie/The Meridian Star
Oct. 9, 2001
Rain didn't dampen the spirit of this year's Memory Walk in Meridian.
Due to bad weather Saturday morning, the third annual walk to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association was moved from Bonita Lakes to inside Bonita Lakes Mall.
The walk brought in $13,767.69 and more donations are coming in, said Barb Dobrosky, community resource coordinator at Rush Senior Health Center and coordinator of the walk.
Participating teams won trophies in several categories. The team that raised the most money was the Rubena Raspberry Team from Rush Foundation Hospital with $3,024. The team captain, Linda Oliver, also won the trophy for raising more money than any other individual, $750.
The Beverly Broadmoor Health Center Team came in second with $1,473.
A total of $3,500 was contributed by the following local corporate sponsors: Beverly Broadmoor Health Center; Rush Foundation Hospital; and Silver Leaf Retirement Community.
Last year's total for the Memory Walk was $8,667. In its first year, the event raised $11,118, but $10,000 of that came from corporate sponsorships.
The number of participants was up this year as well. Dobrosky said she is sure some people didn't come out because of the weather, or because they did not get word that the walk had been moved inside, but 131 walkers participated, compared to 110 last year.
Edward and Eunice McDill of Meridian were big winners at the walk. Mr. McDill's name was drawn at the Memory Walk held in Jackson on Saturday, as the winner of a Caribbean cruise.
Alzheimer's awareness doesn't end with the Memory Walk. November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month.
Dobrosky said a program titled "Caring through the Stages of Alzheimer's," will be held Nov. 6 at Rush Senior Health Center, 5009 Highway 493. The program, scheduled for 9 a.m.-noon, will include a light lunch. To register, call Dobrosky at the Alzheimer's Association East Central Branch Office at 483-4720.
Steve Gillespie is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3233, or e-mail him at sgillespie@themeridianstar.com.