MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The Alzheimer’s Association of Central Ohio has partnered with the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce to launch “Paint The Town Purple,” an initiative aimed at driving fundraising for Alzheimer’s research and highlighting the impact of dementia on the Marion community. The event will run from September 16th through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on September 21st.
The partnership will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 16th at 11:30 a.m. in The Harding Center Garden Room, located at 267 W Center St. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the nation’s largest peer-to-peer fundraising event, will take place at The Marion Campus on September 21st, with the event opening at 8:00 a.m. and the opening ceremony beginning at 9:00 a.m.
In 2023, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Marion raised $29,810, with a goal of $40,000 for this year. Walk Event Chair Lynda Schreader, who joined the planning committee in 2020, has a personal connection to the cause. “Unfortunately, I think nearly everyone does. It’s an all-too-common disease,” she said.
Nearly 220,000 Ohioans have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, a number expected to increase as the state continues to age. The Alzheimer’s Association has welcomed numerous advances in dementia care, including multiple FDA-approved treatments that slow the course of the disease, advancements in detection and screening, and changes in state law to improve conditions for those with dementia.
To support the event and these organizations, the Alzheimer’s Association encourages attendance at both the ribbon-cutting and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Marion. Businesses interested in participating in “Paint the Town Purple” can contact Walk Manager Matt Austin at mkaustin@alz.org.