Floy Farr

is ready to walk. So is former Peachtree City Mayor Fred

Brown. And Elaine Galliard, marketing director for Ashley

Glen Assisted Living and Alzheimer's Care in Peachtree

City.

Wendy Farr, Bill Crowley

with Peachtree National Bank and Gina Weathersby from The

Plaza at Wesley Woods in Coweta County all want to walk,

too. The list of those who are ready to walk is long, and

it is growing.

A group of moe than 25

local business leaders, residents, and individuals

associated with senior care have signed on to walk and

help organize the first Southside Alzheimer's Memory

Walk. Well-known and respected Fayette County resident

Farr, whose wife has Alzheimer's disease, is the

"visionary" behind the initiative to organize a

local walk.

The Alzheimer's Association

Memory Walk has been offered in Atlanta for the past

eight years. Galliard has participated in the Atlanta

Walk for the past few years. Although she is a strong

supporter of the fight against Alzheimer's, the 7 a.m.

start time for the annual Alzheimer's Walk was not

enticing to Galliard.

After her last walk she

made a comment to fellow walker Farr that she wished the

walk started later. Farr immediately suggested that

Fayette County have its own walk. A few months later, in

January, the first organizational meeting was conducted

at the local Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center.

During the meeting

attendees learned about the Alzheimer's Association, some

details on the disease and received an overview of the

mechanics of hosting a walk. Special events coordinator

Angie Dorn and information and referral coordinator John

Thames of the Alzheimer's Association both presented

information and answered questions.

Volunteers were asked to

chair or work on various committees with the goal of

raising a yet-unspecified amount through the Walk.

Another main goal of the Walk will be to raise community

awareness regarding the disease. Attendees signed on for

a variety of tasks and were encouraged to recruit others

to sign up to help make the Walk a reality.

The walk will be in

September this year. Those interested in helping or

walking can call Elaine Galliard, Ashley Glen at

770-631-0205.

Note: In future Prime Timer

sections we will provide more information regarding

Alzheimer's and how it is affecting local Fayette County

residents. We will also continue to provide updates on

the progress of the Southside Alzheimer's Memory Walk

2000.

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