Olga Spagnoli waves to the camera as she walks in front of Olga Rios and City Councilor Agma Sweeney during a fundraising walk around Park Square to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
WESTFIELD – For several years a fundraising walk was staged at Stanley Park to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association but, when the venue was changed to the grounds of Holyoke Community College, local senior citizens were challenged to get to Holyoke in order to participate.
Now, the leaders of the city’s Council on Aging found a way to allow them to help the association anyway.
Tina Gorman, director of the COA, said that “To maximize public awareness of the disease and raise funds on behalf of the local Alzheimer’s Association” members of the COA coordinated with residents of The Arbors, an assisted living facility on Court Street, to stage their own walk and fundraiser in the city.
Gorman’s organizing effort bore fruit yesterday when dozens of senior citizens, both residents of The Arbors and members of the COA, converged on the city’s Park Square to walk and visibly support the Alzheimer’s Association.
Many of the residents wore purple tie dyed shirts made by residents of The Arbors and sold, along with hand-made purple scarves, to raise funds for the association.
Purple is the signature color for the Alzheimer’s Association.
A raffle to benefit the association was also offered at the event.
Gorman said that the 25 walkers from the COA have raised $200 to date and said that any interested parties may make donations to the association via the COA.
Checks made payable to the Alzheimer’s Association may be mailed to the Westfield Senior Center, she said, at 40 Main Street.
She said that persons seeking more information about COA’s efforts to support the Alzheimer’s Association, or about any of the programs at the senior center, may call the COA at 562-6435.
Participants in a walk at Park Square to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association look on as Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik dons a purple tee shirt he bought at the fundraiser yesterday. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
This year’s fundraising walk at HCC is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 29.
Officially named the Pioneer Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s, registration for the walk will begin at 8 a.m. at the community college at 301 Homestead Ave. in Holyoke.
Walkers at the event will have the option of a quarter mile or a mile and a half route and will be offered breakfast.
There will also be a disc jockey, face painting, live music, entertainment and an exhibitor fair.
