Turning Pain into Purpose

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, an estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, while nearly 13 million people provide unpaid care for someone living with dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end the disease through global research, early detection, and quality care and support.

An association favorite and the largest event to raise awareness and funds to support Alzheimer’s care, research, and advocacy is the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This year’s local walk will take place at Baker Park in Naples on November 14.

In preparation for this, on Thursday, October 8, The Arlington of Naples hosted a kick-off party full of fun, food, raffles, opportunities to support, and a whole lot of purple!

“At The Arlington of Naples, we see the importance of compassion, connection, and support every day,” said Michelle Bettigole, Executive Director of The Arlington of Naples. “Hosting the Walk to End Alzheimer’s kickoff gives us an opportunity to bring our residents, families, and the community together to raise awareness, support caregivers, and remind people that no one has to face this journey alone. We are proud to stand with the Alzheimer’s Association in working toward a future without Alzheimer’s.”

The Arlington is the ‘Promise Garden’ sponsor for this year’s event. This garden is comprised of colorful flowers that represent one’s relation to the disease:

Orange: I support the cause and the association’s vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

Yellow: I support or care for someone living with Alzheimer’s.

Purple: I have lost someone to Alzheimer’s disease.

Blue: I am living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

A crowd of community members gathered to hear presentations laden with personal stories, perspectives on the disease, a further understanding on the work of the Association, and each presenter’s ‘why’.

New walk manager for Lee and Collier County, Mary Book, emceed the event and shared her ‘why’. “My mother passed seven years ago, and my dad went on that journey with her. It impacted our family, our friends, and it was a devastating journey,” said Book. She understands the impact that this disease can have on loved ones and care supporters.

Christy Christine’s, The Arlington’s Director of Sales and Marketing Assisted Living and Memory Care and leader of the heartfelt connections program, ‘why’ is rooted in responsibility. “For me, serving families through dementia means returning to these lessons every day: be present, listen carefully, and make room for grief,” said Christine. “Helping families discover that connection can still look like love; it means remembering the person beyond the diagnosis, and the caregiver beyond the responsibilities. We cannot remove every uncertainty from this journey, but we can bring compassion, understanding, and steadiness to the next step.”

For Candida Harris, Edward Jones of Naples, her ‘why’ started with her father, who refused to admit that he had a problem. When her daughter saw the purple bus, she called the toll-free number and began her journey with the Alzheimer’s Association. Paraphrasing her managing partner, Penny Pennington, she added, “Edward Jones works to protect your retirement and your memories. Alzheimer’s is going to destroy them, and we are here to make sure that slows down and eventually stops.”

Volunteer Community Educator for the Alzheimer’s Association and medical social worker, Stephanie Malally’s two-fold ‘why’ stems from her grandmother who suffered from the disease and with her work at Lee Health’s Memory Disorder Clinic.

She talked about the free peer support and advocacy programs available. These programs are only made possible through donations and fundraisers, such as the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. “The dollars we raise allow for national and local free care and support,” said Malally. Ninety-five cents of every dollar raised goes to the association and its programs, advocacy, and fundraising activities.

These fundraisers and donations have locally given 1,320 people in Collier County, 3,298 in Lee County, and 114,784 in the state of Florida vital care and support.

Cynthia Perthuis, Elder Care Specialist, Alzheimer’s Association – Gulf Coast Region board member, and owner of Senior Care Authority, is closely linked to the disease with her own father and uncle having had Alzheimer’s, and herself and her sister are living with the gene. “It’s all over ‘why’ I do what I do. And I think that Collier County needs to step up and raise more money because everybody knows someone or loves someone who has this disease – everyone,”  said Perthuis.

Before taking a blood test for detection of the disease, she shared, “I sat in the parking lot and I thought, I don’t care, I don’t want to know…but I did want to know because I wanted to make sure that I could be as close as I could be to a cure for this disease and the treatments. And the Alzheimer’s Association brings me as close as anybody can bring me to a cure and to treatment.”

She supports the U.S. Pointer Study, a study to protect brain health through lifestyle intervention to reduce risk. It is free and does not require any skills to complete, “It’s about what you need to do to try to keep your brain right. It’s like what your mother told you to do: Eat your vegetables. Go outside. Make a lot of friends. Go to school!”

In Collier County alone, 17,000 people have been diagnosed. That does not account for those who are in the early stages and undiagnosed. In Lee County, it is 26,000.

The final ‘why’ of the event came from Nancy Laich, a team captain for the walk, and an excellent example of the spirit behind a Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Laich retired when her mother, who was a registered nurse in the ER, was diagnosed, and she served as her primary caregiver. She used the resources available from the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association for support. Upon her mother’s passing, she said, “I didn’t realize how much this disease stole and how much it took from her. I felt I had to do something, and it wasn’t enough to just donate; I wanted to get out and do more.”

After a walk cancellation in 2020 due to Covid, she and her walk partner, Linda, decided to do a walk in their own community. What began as a two-mile walk has grown into an Alzheimer’s Week, with overwhelming support from their own community. They have a fashion show, a three-day pickleball tournament, an evening party, several sponsors, and much more!

“I think about ‘why’ and we all have different reasons for what we do, but I think we all share the same goal. We just have to find a cure and we believe that that’s possible!” said Laich.

What can you do to help: Donate, plant a virtual promise garden on the Association’s website, host a bake sale, create department contests within your organization, have a golf or pickleball tournament, conduct a lunch-and-learn where someone from the Association can come and speak. “We’re happy to come and talk to your organization!” said Book.

If you would like to register to walk at the event, create a team of your own, find out more ways to help, or seek support, visit: www.alz.org.

“Every step that you take and every dollar that you raise puts us one step closer to finding a cure!” said Book.