Local organizers

of the first Southside Alzheimer's Memory Walk were not sure what to expect

when they started marshalling resources for the walk, but the group has

been overwhelmed with the support from the community.

Hosting the

local walk was the brainchild of one of Peachtree City's founding fathers,

Floy Farr, along with Elaine Gaillard of Ashley Glen Assisted Living in

Peachtree City. Farr's wife has Alzheimer's disease and is a resident

at Ashley Glen.

Farr and Gaillard

had made the trek to downtown Atlanta in the wee hours of the morning

for the Atlanta Memory Walk when Elaine made a comment about how much

she supported the effort but didn't care for the long drive. Farr, always

the problem solver, suggested they look at hosting a Southside walk.

Within a relatively

short time frame, a committee was formed, permission granted by the Alzheimer's

Association and the calls to local companies for support began.

Fred Brown,

Jr., former Mayor of Peachtree City, Denise Buchanan, Dogwood Forest,

Alice Mallory, Ralph and Brownie Jones, Reba Thompson, Geri Cowan, Melissa

McCammon, Ashley Glen and Iola Snow, along with Farr and Gaillard, formed

the working committee.

Local nursing

homes and assisted living communities jumped on board and began raising

money and offering other assistance. Dogwood Forest hosted the kickoff

party, while Southland Nursing Home raised money and had a team of ten

walkers. Coweta-Fayette EMC, in conjunction with Operations roundup and

Coweta Fayette Trust, signed on as the presenting sponsor.

Talbot Bank

was the gold sponsor and provided help in planning the event. Ashley Glen

and Governor's Glen, Dogwood Forest, Peachtree National Bank, The Floy

Farr and Hilda Bruce Farr Fund, the Rotary Club of Peachtree City and

Village Pharmacy also signed on as sponsors and joined in the walk.

Brown, a long-standing

member of the Peachtree City Kiwanis, enlisted that group's aid as a monetary

sponsors and volunteers at the walk. Numerous local companies donated

products and time to make the walk a great success. Fayette Community

Hospital hosted the first-aid table, and Uncle Rich from MJX Radio 98.1

played music and emceed the event.

A number of

departments at Fayette Community Hospital also formed teams of walkers

and helped raise money. The hospital generously matched the amount collected

participated in the walk.

The Kiwanis

weren't satisfied with their Bronze level sponsorship and managed to collect

an additional $800. Still not satisfied, they decided to provide free

hamburgers and hotdogs to walkers after the walk. Gaillard said, "It

was the first time I've ever had hot dogs for breakfast, but the smell

of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs overcame any reservations."

She continued,

"The Kiwanis Club cooked out, cleaned up and helped in so many ways.

We couldn't have done the walk with them."

Congressman

Mac Collins stopped by and gave a brief update to the group onthe efforts

of Congress in regard to Alzheimer's. County Commissioners Greg Dunn and

Herb Frady and Peachtree City Mayor Pro-tem Annie McMenamin assisted,

Peachtree City gave a proclamation of support, and Governor Barnes sent

a personal letter of support.

Volunteers

from the Peachtree City Running Club hosted a short run prior to the walk,

also. The walk attracted a fairly large crowd, as well as contributing

a large amount to the total dollars raised to fight the disease.

Those helping

in raising money hosted a wide-variety of events to collect dollars. Southland

Nursing Home may have been one of the most innovative and industrious.

They sold "Memory Shoes," designed by one of their artistic

staff members. Staffers and resident family members baked cakes for a

Cake-Walk and Cake Raffle.

The Home hosted

an All-You-Can-Eat Taco night and a separate Ice Cream party to raise

money. The walkers sold chances for some beautiful fall baskets made by

the Home's beautician. One of the staff's favorites was the ability to

wear jeans on Fridays if they purchased an Alzheimer's sticker.

Overall more

than 70 local businesses, organizations and groups helped to raise well

over $70,000 as of Monday morning.