This year Blind Brook students participated in “The Walk to End Alzheimer’s”, a nationwide initiative organized by the Alzheimer’s Association. The organization is dedicated to raising money for Alzheimer’s research in the hopes of one day finding a cure. Through their efforts, BBHS students contributed to a series of impactful activities, including a bake sale, a Lego event, and finally the walk.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, affecting more than 6 million Americans today. This number is expected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050 unless significant advancements are made. In addition to its devastating emotional toll, Alzheimer’s is also the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and incurs an annual cost of over $345 million in care. Efforts like the Walk to End Alzheimer’s are critical in addressing these staggering statistics and providing hope for a future free of this disease.
Led by seniors Rachel Horn and Emiy Tian, the fundraising began with a bake sale held at the Rye Ridge Shopping Plaza. Students set up tables filled with homemade treats including cupcakes, cookies, and brownies to raise money. Community members stopped by to enjoy the delicious offerings and show their support for the cause.
Following the bake sale, BBHS participated in the Alzheimer Association’s Lego building competition event at the Greenburgh Library. This event saw people of all ages to put their creativity to the test. The challenge: build the most impressive house using only Lego bricks within a one-hour time limit. Once the hour was over, the houses were judged and prizes were awarded to the top 4 teams. The purpose of this was to promote intergenerational collaboration and keep one’s mind cognitively active, a task that has been suggested by recent literature to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s.
The culminating event was the walk. This event was much larger than the previous gatherings with close to 1,000 people present. At the event, attendees were given plastic flowers that came in 4 different colors to represent the experiences people had with the disease.
Blind Brook students volunteered and manned the fun zone throughout the event. “I volunteer at a nursing home and interact with many Alzheimer’s patients so being here felt like a great way to honor them and contribute to something meaningful,” said Emily Tian.
This event is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide and is currently the world’s largest event to raise awareness and money for Alzheimer’s research and care. Not only does the organization help with the financial needs of affected families, but also helps pass landmark legislation such as the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, a new mandated national plan to fight Alzheimer’s.