Dinners to help raise funds for Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Tribune Staff Report

To help raise money for the Southeast Kansas Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, members of the Fort Scott Manor walk team will be delivering home-cooked meals to homes and businesses on Friday.Lynette Emmerson, Fort Scott Manor administrator and captain of the 10-member squad, said each team member donated the food and will be doing the cooking. She said Fort Scott Manor also provided some of the supplies.Emmerson said she’s been caring for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for more than 20 years.

“I love caring for those with Alzheimer’s,” she said. “It’s a growing segment of our population and I’ve had some personal family members be affected by it. People need to be educated about it and support each other. I think the walk really does that.”

The annual two-mile walk for Bourbon, Cherokee and Crawford counties and is held in Pittsburg in May — this year on May 19.

Proceeds provide respite for caregivers and education for Southeast Kansans.

Some 5.4 million Americans, or one in eight seniors, suffer from the disease, and the numbers are rising, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, the website said, and is the only cause of death among the top 10 that cannot be “prevented, cured or even slowed.”

Fort Scott has had a team participate in the walk for about 10 years, although this is only the fifth year Fort Scott Manor will be participating.

The $6 dinner includes brisket, baked beans, potato salad, a dinner roll and dessert.

Deliveries will be made from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-5:30 p.m.

About 40 dinner orders have been received so far, and up to 70 can be accommodated. Emmerson added orders will be taken until 11 a.m. Friday.

For more information, call (620) 223-3120, or (620) 757-9955.

You can also send an email to Lemmerson@ckt.net.