By Ariele Vaccaro
Debbie Wasikowski passes under the Hohn Bridge during the Walk to End Alzheimer’s with her husband and grandson. Photo by Ariele Vaccaro.
Debbie Wasikowski began Milwaukee’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s this weekend with a smile on her face. She took to street the with her father — an Alzheimer’s patient — in mind and her grandson at her side. However, Wasikowski wouldn’t be completing the walk on two feet. Rather, she’d be crossing the finish line on four wheels.
On the morning of Sunday, Sept. 20, she came to the Henry Maier festival grounds in a wheelchair, left leg in a full cast. Despite her injury, she was still bent on finishing the walk to foster awareness of the disease which currently affects about five million people in the United States. With the help of her husband, she made it across the finish line. “I hope that education is put out there to understand that it’s the same as if somebody has cancer and their body is dying,” explained Wasikowski. She recalled her father’s struggle.
“His mind has died.” Alzheimer’s causes mental deterioration and memory loss.
“It’s a hard disease to watch someone go through,” said Wasikowski.
Her daughter, Jenny Rick, brought together a team of about 25 family members to form Angels for Alzheimer’s.
Those who walked carried flower pinwheels representing different people affected by the disease in different ways.
A walk participant carrying a blue flower is currently suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Those with purple flowers have seen a loved one pass away because of Alzheimer’s.
Yellow, Wasikowski’s flower, represents someone who is currently caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.
And supporters who may not have been personally affected by the disease, but still envisioned and hoped for a world without it carried an orange flower.
Walk participants make their way along the route. Photo by Ariele Vaccaro.
Before walkers took to the pavement, they gathered in the festival grounds to hear local leaders speak.
Maria Monreal-Cameron is a retired CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and currently an Alzheimer’s Association champion.
“It takes so much and leaves so little,” Monreal-Cameron told the crowd of participants, a sea of purple t-shirts. She encouraged attendees to utilize tools like the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 helpline and support groups.
One speaker, Don Sykes, has been personally affected by the disease. The former Social Development Commission Director and member of the Workforce Investment Board thanked the walkers for participating.
Hundreds of people walked through the festival park, along the lake, and under the Hohn Bridge. They began near the park’s entrance, where the Oak Creek drumline played an energizing beat.
By the time they’d made it along the entire route, the sun was high in the sky and beating on them, but the heat didn’t keep them from fist-pumping and high-fiving to show their excitement at crossing the finish line.
As the last walkers trickled in, they gathered again in the festival ground to listen to the sounds of Milwaukee singer Nora Collins.