By Maddison Rametta
Twyla Sketchley is serving as Event Day Chair for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Tallahassee.
Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease.
Twyla recently answered a few questions about his involvement in the fight to end Alzheimer’s.
How has Alzheimer’s impacted your life? As a local elder law attorney, I work with individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s and their caregivers often. I see firsthand how the disease impacts the individual’s quality of life and how hard their caregivers work to provide for them. It is heartbreaking for me to see these individuals lose parts of themselves.
What made you decide to volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s? I wanted to show the Alzheimer’s community that they are not alone in their fight against the disease and their mission to fund research to end the disease.
How do you hope to support your community as a volunteer? I hope as the logistical coordinator, I can help contribute to the walk, raise awareness regarding Alzheimer’s and contribute to the fight against the disease.
Why should someone sign up for Walk to End Alzheimer’s? It is important everyone sign up for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. It is estimated that 6.5 million people have Alzheimer’s disease in the United States, and this figure is growing fast. This is a disease that can affect anyone. It is important to Walk to End Alzheimer’s so that adequate treatment can be developed to help individuals suffering from the disease and to show solidarity with caregivers.
How can someone get involved in Walk to End Alzheimer’s? Reach out! Go to act.alz.org and sign up! At the site you can sign up and create a team to join the walk, donate money to specific teams or to the organization, and start a fundraising campaign on social media. Even the smallest gestures have the biggest impact.
What’s your favorite thing to do in your community? What do you like most about your community? My favorite thing to do in the community is to take walks around our communities many beautiful parks and lakes. It gives me the ability to take in the natural beauty of Tallahassee while interacting with the members of my community. What I love best about Tallahassee is the community’s willingness to step up through activism. The members of Tallahassee are always involved in some form of activism, from politics to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Its beautiful to see all the love my community has for the well being of others.
Register today for a Walk near you at alz.org/cnfl/walk.
