Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey – Walk to End Alzheimer’s®

Essex-Hudson-Union: September 23, 2017 l Bergen-Passaic: October 15, 2017

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About the Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey Chapter

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization focused on Alzheimer’s care, support and research. The association helps people facing Alzheimer’s through face-to-face education and support programs, its 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) and website at alz.org. To further research, the association provides valuable critical international leadership and funding to advance methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure for Alzheimer’s.

Formed in 1980, the Greater New Jersey Chapter has a regional office at 999 Riverview Drive in Totowa (Passaic County) and is the local arm of the national nonprofit organization. The chapter serves constituents in Central and Northern New Jersey who are affected by Alzheimer’s or other dementias. The Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey Chapter is not affiliated with any New Jersey-based Alzheimer’s-related nonprofit or for-profit entity that does not bear the official, registered trademarked Alzheimer’s Association name.

Facts about Alzheimer’s

  • The direct cost of Alzheimer’s and other dementias is greater than any other condition in the United States, including heart disease and cancer, according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine
  • Nearly 1 in every 5 Medicare dollars is spent on people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia
  • Costs related to Alzheimer’s are projected to increase to more than $1.1 trillion in 2050
  • More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease
  • By 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease is projected to reach 13.8 million and could rise as high as 16 million
  • Every 67 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s

Description

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is the world’s largest annual event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. It is the association’s premier event held in more than 600 communities with over 500,000 walkers participating nationally. Started in 1989 with nine Alzheimer’s Association chapters hosting Memory Walks, four different venues in Northern and Central New Jersey will be the sites for Walk to End Alzheimer’s events in September and October. These include the Essex-Hudson-Union Walk on Saturday, September 23rd at Newark, N.J.’s Weequahic Park and the Bergen-Passaic Walk slated for Sunday, October 15th at Overpeck Park in Ridgefield Park, N.J.

These two events, along with those being held nationwide and in Bradley Beach and Mercer County, N.J., are recognized by serious and recreational walkers alike as opportunities to raise critical funding on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is not associated with the sponsoring organization of any other similarly named events.

Venues

  • Essex-Hudson-Union Walk to End Alzheimer’sWeequahic Park, located at Meeker Avenue & Empire Street in Newark, is a 311-acre historic recreation hub originally designed by the Olmstead Brothers firm. Once home to the original Waverly Fairgrounds, park features include an 80-acre lake, the state’s first public golf course, a field house, baseball fields, basketball courts, playgrounds, tennis courts, natural gardens and a picnic area. In addition, Weequahic Park has an extensive jogging and walking trail network that includes a portion of the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000 mile urban greenway/rail trail project linking cities on the East Coast. New Jersey has the second highest percentage of the Greenway’s famed off-road trails.
  • Bergen-Passaic Walk to End Alzheimer’sOverpeck Park, located at 199 Challenger Rd. in Ridgefield Park, is an 805-acre park and the largest recreational venue in Bergen County, New Jersey’s most populous county. The former landfill and brownfield site is now one of the region’s most prominent recreational destinations. Among its multi-use amenities is the Palisades Sportsplex, Bergen Equestrian Center, natural and artificial turf athletic fields, tracks, picnic and fishing areas, playgrounds and a canoe and kayak center. More than five miles of walking and jogging trails traverse the site, which also is home to a World Trade Center memorial.

Sponsorship and Volunteers

Edward Jones, the financial services firm with more than 14,000 locations nationwide, nearly 7 million clients and $1 trillion in assets under management, is the National Presenting Sponsor for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Local sponsorship opportunities are available, offering a chance to demonstrate a company-wide or organizational commitment to the greater community as well as employees who are impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia, many of whom are struggling with striking a work/home/caregiving balance.

There are six levels of sponsorship available to corporations, foundations and individuals interested in becoming involved in the Essex-Hudson-Union and Bergen-Passaic Walk to End Alzheimer’s. These include Platinum, Amethyst, Sapphire, Gold, Silver and Bronze, starting at $1,000 and include a wide range of benefits. There also are opportunities to become a Promise Garden, Volunteer, Pen, Puppy, Team Photo and Social Media Sponsor. In-kind and financial donations also are accepted.

In addition, volunteers play a vital role in the fight to end Alzheimer’s throughout the year and on walk day. Each year, volunteers are in greatest demand to assist with set up, advocacy, registration, greeting, break down and clean up. More information can be obtained by emailing Melissa Apel at mlapel@alz.org.

Registration

There is no fee to start or join a team or participate as an individual in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Participants need only set a personal fundraising goal, kick-start it with a self donation and reach out to family, friends and colleagues to reach their fundraising milestone by walk day. Find a nearby walk, register and start fundraising and raising awareness by visiting www.alz.org/njwalk.

Office Location

Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey Chapter

999 Riverview Drive, Suite, 201, Totowa, NJ 07511

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