The Walk to End Alzheimer’s took place on Saturday, September 21 in Pack Square, downtown Asheville. The Walk is one of our favorite events each year. Residents and staff make up Team Ardenwoods. When we gather together at the walk, it’s really our whole Ardenwoods community coming together. It’s a wonderful time to remember loved ones, encourage those who are caring for loved ones, and support those who have lost loved ones.
That said, Team Ardenwoods held a number of different fundraisers leading up to the event. The first was Casual for a Cause, in which staff paid $2 each to participate in casual Friday. They comfortably navigated the work day in purple shirts or Walk to End Alzheimer’s t-shirts.
Later in August, the staff participated in a 50/50 raffle to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. We also had a car wash where staff took a bit of time off from their busy schedules and washed residents’ cars to raise money. Interacting with our residents out of the context of our jobs was fun… and it fell on a nice sunny day as a bonus. Finally, in the three weeks in September leading up to the Walk, we collected spare change from the residents and staff. It can really add up! We are proud to say that we have raised $1400 so far!
Heather Glen also had their annual “Walk & Roll”, taking a lap around the property to show support in solidarity with us. They really enjoy being a part of this and remembering and honoring those who have dealt with this disease.
An estimated 5.8 million Americans of all ages are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2019. This number includes approximately 5.6 million people age 65 and older. By the year 2050, this number will rise to nearly 14 million. Every 65 seconds someone in the U.S. develops this disease!
It is our goal for Ardenwoods Senior Living community to always be a celebration of healthy living. Whether it’s rocking purple, washing cars, donating, or just simply walking, Team Ardenwoods shows up to support the cause.