PANORA WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S RAISES $10,000

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

The fifth Raccoon River Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s was held in Panora Sept. 20 with 87 registered participants. The walk began at the Michael Mills Memorial Park. The two-mile route had walkers heading east from the park, north to the Raccoon River Valley Trail, and south on the trail before looping back to the park.   

These Alzheimer’s Association fundraising walks are held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide and constitute the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. 

Melissa Borgeson, executive director at The Lakeside Village, is the local committee chair for the Panora walk. She was the emcee for the program that began at 9:30 a.m. 

Borgeson said 62,000 people in Iowa currently are living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. 

“Funds raised at this walk today and other walks like it help provide 24/7 care and support to these people, and their caregivers,” she said. 

“Funds also support research. The FDA recently approved some drugs for treatment of those in the beginning stages of the disease. But much more needs to be done, especially for those who are in the later stages.” 

Edwards Jones has been a national presenting sponsor of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s since 2016. Melissa Loest, an Edward Jones financial advisor based in Guthrie Center, spoke to walk participants. She said $55 million has been raised nationally through these annual walks since 2016. 

Spinning flowers in four colors were available for walk participants to place in a Promise Garden. Borgeson asked participants to show each colored flower and explained its meaning. Blue – someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Purple – someone who has lost someone to the disease. Yellow – a person currently supporting or caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s. Orange – a person who supports the cause and the Alzheimer’s Association’s vision of a world without the disease.

Malia Jacobsen displayed a white flower, which will represent the first survivor of Alzheimer’s, once a cure is found. 

While there was no fee to register for the walk, all were encouraged to raise funds. The Alzheimer’s Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. 

On the day of this year’s Raccoon River Valley Walk, it was announced more than $10,000 had been raised to date. Donations can continue to be made online to the 2025 Raccoon River Valley Walk through Dec. 31 at act.alz.org/rrvwalk. 

In addition to Edward Jones, sponsors of the local walk included The Lakeside Village and The New Homestead. At registration, Crafty’s Coffee provided coffee, and Perry Hy-Vee provided bananas and bottled water.

Committee members were Mel Borgeson, Carrie Moats, Bob Grove, Rick Jacobsen and Julie Hathaway. Volunteers were present to help the day of the event including students from Panorama High School and the Jacobsen family.