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Philanthropy A walk to remember

Laguna Niguel News - Aliso Viejo News - 10/19/2017

Some 400 people walked in solidarity to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer's disease and dementia at the Alzheimer's walk in Laguna Niguel on Saturday.

Walk4ALZ, a 2-mile walk hosted by Alzheimer's Orange County, raised $40,000 that will go to countywide services that help people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Some of the services include adult day health care and caregiving classes.

"Our walks send a resounding message to the community that we will do everything in our power to fight Alzheimer's," Jim McAleer, Alzheimer's Orange County's CEO and president, said in a release. "Whether it is working on the front lines to provide help to those currently facing the disease or rallying to raise awareness."

More than 84,000 Orange County residents have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, McAleer said minutes before the Alzheimer's walk started.

Lucy Lisbeth is among those thousands. She learned she has Alzheimer's disease in 2010 and has been attending the Alzheimer's walks since 2011 with her husband, Roger. The couple spoke to participants and shared their experience with Alzheimer's disease.

"It used to be when we spoke to groups like yours, I would interview Lucy," Roger Lisbeth said. "I would ask her a question and she'd be able to give us an answer. I can't do that today."

Roger Lisbeth told the audience about his wife's declining health since her diagnosis, making walking and speaking more difficult for her.

With participants in the crowd tearing up at their story, Lucy Lisbeth finished her husband's speech with "find a cure."

Once the walk began, groups including the Laguna Woods Senior Clown Alley Club and Seniors for Seniors, a dog adoption group that finds homes for senior dogs, lightened the mood, bringing laughs and

smiles to participants beginning their walk.

Johnnie Mitchell, 70, said she walks for her mom and most of her aunts who died of Alzheimer's disease.

"I think (the walk) helps give (Alzheimer's disease) some visibility and helps some of the participants to recommit, and it can be cathartic to do something in honor of someone," Mitchell said.

Also, the camaraderie among participants - many of them families that have been affected by Alzheimer's disease - helps them know that they are not alone, she added.

Debra Schueler of Laguna Niguel said she walks for her father-in-law, who learned he has Alzheimer's disease three years ago.

"He's moving to another stage now where he can't walk," Schueler said. "He has good days and not-so-good days."

Schueler said her family uses a lot of the resources, such as senior day care and caregivers, from Alzheimer's OC for her father-in-law. Although the services help, Schueler said, she hopes a cure for Alzheimer's will come sometime soon.

Bernie Sidlowski, an Aliso Viejo resident and nurse for Kindred at Home, said more than half the patients she sees have Alzheimer's disease or some form of dementia.

"It affects your brain and your physical being, too," Sidlowski said. "A lot of times they have clearer moments and they don't realize, and they think they can do what they did when they were younger."

Also, some families don't want to see their loved ones' health declining, but events like the Walk4Alz can help raise awareness about Alzheimer's or dementia, Sidlowski added.

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