Taking steps toward a cure

For the past ten years, Danville has held the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

This year, the community came together on September 24 at Ballou Park to raise awareness for the disease that, according to Alzheimer’s Association, affects 5.4 million Americans.

Speaker Kathy Davis, who works for WBTM and WAKG radio stations, started the pre-walk ceremony by saying, “Alzheimer’s is a relentless disease, but so are we!”

Each registered participant received a flower pinwheel. The color of the flower symbolized the reason for walking. Some had orange flowers for support while others had more significant colors such as purple, which meant they have a lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s.

T-shirts were given to those who raised $100 or more.

Many teams came on stage to take group pictures so they could show their support on social media by using #showyourpurple.

After thanking the sponsors and an emotional ceremony, the walk began.

The two mile course took participants through the West Main area of Danville. Half-way through, Averett students and their mascots were on the sidelines cheering walkers on and handing out water bottles.

At the finish line, THS interact members were ringing purple bells, taking pictures, and congratulating the finishers.

The walk concluded  around 10:00 AM, but as Davis put it, “don’t limit the fight against Alzheimer’s just to today, but keep on raising awareness for it every day.”