The Pilot Club of Laurinburg will sponsor a stand against Alzheimer’s on Saturday with its annual Alzheimer’s walk.
“This is for the caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients,” said Gillie Edwards, walk co-chair, “The Pilot Club is all about brain disorders and other things brain-related.”
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. at the A.B. Gibson Education Center. The walk will begin at 10 a.m., when participants lap the All-America Mile downtown. A donation of at least $10 is requested to participate, and those who donate at that level will receive an Alzheimer’s North Carolina t-shirt.
The walk will be followed by refreshments and door prizes. Generally 40 to 50 people participate in the walk, which the Pilot Club has held for over a decade.
The Pilot Club expects to raise at least $6,000, which will be directed to Alzheimer’s North Carolina.
“All of the funds do stay in North Carolina,” Edwards said. “Some of it goes to research at Carolina and UNC Wilmington. They offer training and workshops for Alzheimer’s facilitators like me, who facilitate local support groups.”
The Pilot Club of Laurinburg sponsors a local Alzheimer’s support group on the second Tuesday of each month from 7-8 p.m. at Scotland Memorial Hospital.”
“It’s for the caregivers; some of them are family and some are nurses or health care providers,” said Edwards. “Most keep patients home for a while until they get into the more difficult stages, and a lot of times they then have to do have to put them in a facility - it’s pretty much a 24-hour day, caregiving.”
Meetings give those struggling to care for a loved one afflicted with Alzheimer’s a place to find support and a sympathetic ear. “It gives them a chance to learn more about the disease, to share the problems that they may be facing at that time,” said Edwards. “They just kind of help each other. I have various speakers come in who are very knowledgeable about Alzheimer’s.”
For information about the Alzheimer’s walk, Alzheimer’s support group, or the Pilot Club, contact Edwards at 276-2060.
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