This Summer, Support a Cause
Learn about the Alpaca Walk to End Alzheimer’s
One thing I love about our community is how many awareness raising activities and fundraisers exist to support various groups and causes. As you look ahead to summer planning, keep an eye out for these often family-friendly events. They are a great addition to the calendar alongside visits to local museums, parks, hanging by the pool, and road trips.
A new event taking place June 22 recently caught my attention — the Alpaca Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This fundraiser is taking place a short drive south of Tulsa in Boynton at Fleecy Friends Alpacas, a farm my family toured this past winter. Individuals and teams can sign up for the walk and, as you probably guessed from the title, there will be some serious alpaca interaction (though not required). There is already plenty of buzz about the event with food and entertainment vendors eager to join the action. It is certain to be a memorable experience for all ages.
A Conversation About Alzheimer’s
Aside from the opportunity to exercise in a unique environment for a wonderful cause, it’s also a great way to open up the door to the conversation about Alzheimer’s disease. As of 2023, Alzheimer’s disease affects an estimated 6.9 million Americans aged 65 and older, with prevalence expected to rise significantly by 2050.
Though it is not entirely known why, the disease disproportionately affects women and racial disparities are also evident with older Black Americans twice as likely and older Hispanics one and a half times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s compared to older White Americans according to The Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org. Alzheimer’s not only drastically changes the life of the afflicted, but also deeply affects the lives of the family members, especially those directly caring for the individual.
The conversation about Alzheimer’s has come up at our table with the kids wanting to understand it more. My stepson is deeply affected by the disease as someone in his family has it. Children want to know how they can help solve problems. Though there is no cure for Alzheimer’s yet, we can raise awareness and raise money for Alzheimer’s disease research.
Getting Involved
Whatever cause your family is passionate about, I encourage you to look for ways to help and get involved this summer. Taking kids to cause-related events allows them to get a taste for community service, gain a better understanding of how to empathize with other peoples’ struggles, and feel empowered to make positive waves in our world.
If you are interested in participating in the Alpaca Walk to End Alzheimer’s as a participant or participating group click here. If you’d like to be a sponsor or vendor, contact: fleecyfriendsalpacas@gmail.com.
Funds raised at this event will go to support The Alzheimer’s Association.
