Awareness week begins Saturday in Elkins
Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/65240/
One man’s mission to raise awareness about the disease that took his wife is finally coming to fruition.
Saturday kicks off Alzheimer’s Awareness Week in Elkins. Parades, health fairs, barbecues and an appearance by former University of Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles are some of the events scheduled for the week.
Luther Scranton said he lost his wife to Alzheimer’s disease less than a year ago. He said her nine-year bout with the disease took a lot out of him, the caretaker. It really took a toll on his health. He wasn’t sleeping or eating right, he said, and he had blood clots in his legs.
The problems inspired him to do something that could raise awareness about the disease and show people it affects not only the people who have it but also everyone around them.
Scranton and his cousin Jack Bartlett, who has also seen the effects of Alzheimer’s disease first-hand, put their heads together and planned a weeklong event to educate the public as well as raise money to combat Alzheimer’s.
The week kicks off 11 a. m. Saturday in Elkins. Events include:
• Saturday: 11 a. m. — Parade through downtown Elkins; noon to 6 p. m. — beans and cornbread lunch, health fair, bake sale and children’s reading at the Elkins Community Center; 6 p. m. — barbecue and fixins benefit at the Durham Community Center
• Monday: 9 a. m. to 5 p. m.. — Alzheimer’s booth selling T-shirts and memory cards at Harps in Elkins
• Wednesday: 11 a. m. — Children’s reading at the Elkins Public Library
• Thursday: 1-5 p. m. — Alzheimer’s booth selling T-shirts and memory cards at the Shell gas station in Elkins
• Friday: 11 a. m. to 2 p. m. — Children’s reading and Alzheimer’s booth selling Tshirts and memory cards at the Durham Community Center
• Saturday: 4-9 p. m. — Frank Broyles will speak, music benefit and candlelight ceremony at Bunch Park in Elkins
Elkins Alderman Bonnie Wilcox said the memory cards can be purchased through a donation and that the person who bought it can put the name and picture of a loved one who died from or currently has Alzheimer’s disease. She said the city is still looking for volunteers to help with the week, especially people willing to bake items for the bake sale.
All money raised will go to the Alzheimer’s Association.
For more information, call Wilcox at 263-6706.