Over 360 individuals contributed upwards of $11,200 to the Alzheimer’s Association during the fifth annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Oct. 23 at Sacred Heart University.
Students support the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease.
| Daniel Passpera, Sacred Heart University |
The campus walk started in 2022 and had approximately 200 attendees. This is one of two satellite walks that lead to the larger Fairfield County Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
“I hope participants leave with a greater sense of unity and empowerment, knowing that no one is alone in the fight against Alzheimer’s,” said Rui Liu, a professor in the health science department.
Liu described the walk as a prayer to the mission of the university, which is preparing students to go out and make a difference in the community.
Liu affirmed that in overcoming a diagnosis, families can look to the association to get resources, education and support.
Among the strongest moments Liu identified was the Promise Garden Ceremony, where people held colored flowers that signified their relationship to the disease.
The 2026 facts and figures report by the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 7.4 million Americans age 65 and above live with Alzheimer’s dementia.
The report also found that over 12 million family members and other unpaid caregivers in 2025 offered 19.6 billion hours of care.
According to Cheryl Podob, a Senior Development Manager for the Alzheimer’s Association in Fairfield County, when she began working there five years ago, that number was five million.
In 2024, the United States would report 116,022 deaths caused by the disease, which was the sixth leading cause of death in the country, as stated by the report.
Podob said that the walk began as a collaboration between the association and Sacred Heart faculty.
At the initial walk, they collected approximately $8,000, Podob reported. The event raised $64,000 over four years.
“I think the students now really see it as a part of who they are,” said Podob. “Many students at Sacred Heart pursue health-related studies, such as nursing and physical therapy, and view the walk as part of their academic discipline.”
According to Podob, Sacred Heart marketing students have created save-the-date announcements, flyers and lawn signs over the past two years.
The athletics department also offered the association the opportunity to participate in two hockey games during the walk weekend, with staff providing information and QR codes at a table.
The organizers shifted the starting time to 9 a.m. two weeks before the walk because the Sacred Heart marching band had plans to hold a march before a football game. Podob commended the students for their participation despite the cold weather.
Senior Chelsea Perez cut the ribbon to start the walk this year, and has been walking all four years. She is the fundraising director for SHU’s chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta, the top fundraising group.
“I have gotten to watch this event grow and truly flourish,” said Perez. “Everyone truly cares for the cause.”
Perez mentioned that her favorite moment is the first lap, when participants walk together. Many people have a friend or family member with the disease, making student support especially important.
According to Podob, people are less secretive about a family member’s diagnosis than they were five years ago.
“Research is ongoing,” said Podob. “Two drugs have been shown to slow the disease in its early stages, and a blood test can screen for early signs of amyloid plaques.”
The Alzheimer’s Association has a free, 24/7 helpline available at 800-272-3900. Insurance coverage for the blood test is generally unavailable, according to Podob.
“The ASAP Act, a bipartisan bill in Congress, would mandate coverage. This is the beginning of this age of prevention; we are coming into it,” said Podob.
