On Friday, May 13, the Jefferson Primary School community held its first Walk to End Alzheimer’s® fundraising event. The walk has already raised more than $2,800 to support the Alzheimer’s Association, Long Island Chapter.
The walk was sponsored by the Jefferson Jaguars Grade 3 Leadership Team and its faculty advisors, Dr. Kathleen Ozimkowski and Julie Dooher. Pre-kindergarten through third grade students walked around the school’s traffic circle to show their support for Long Island families impacted by the disease.
“Throughout the Long Island area, thousands of families are facing this progressive and ultimately fatal disease,” states a letter signed by Jefferson Primary School Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide, Ozimkowski and Dooher. “Our goal is to promote awareness and raise funds for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and the family members who love and cherish them.”
Rita Adrion from the Alzheimer’s Association, Long Island Chapter, attended the walk and shared: “I was inspired by the students of Jefferson Primary and their enthusiasm for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. They truly understand the impact this disease is having on local families and want to do what they can to help. We are so grateful for them and the support we’ve received from the entire Jefferson Primary School community.”
More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
