IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – An Annual Alzheimer’s Walk is set to sweep through the city of Iron Mountain this weekend. Tammy Tomassucci, the dedicated Director of Family Ties Adult Center at the Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency (DICSA), kindly shared details of the upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Registration for the walk starts Saturday at 9:00 a.m. CST, with the walk beginning at 10:00 a.m. following a brief ceremony that tells stories of people, and why they are carrying different colored flowers for the walk. The purple flower stands to signify someone that has lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s disease. During the registration period, attendees can grab a snack, participate in various activities, and there will be music, according to the Director.
“It’s becoming more and more prevalent,” stated Tomassucci, “As the baby boomers have aged there is a huge amount of people now,” she added, in regard to how the disease impacts the Iron Mountain community.
The support for this cause is palpable. Generous donors, including the Dickinson-Iron Health Department and Bellin Health, have already rallied behind the event. The Home Depot has even contributed a gleaming Weber grill, and an array of at least 15 prize baskets from local businesses is up for grabs in a silent auction. However, the true gem of the collection is an anonymous donation—a rare, green-and-gold Packer-themed painting, personally signed by the legendary Reggie White, complete with a certificate of authenticity.
For the organizers, this event is personal. They have witnessed the heartbreaking effects of Alzheimer’s in their own community, and within their own families. This walk is a way for them to give back, and generate support.
“We’ve done this a few years, and we’re really excited. Our mission at Family Ties is to care for people that have Alzheimer’s. And we’re there to support the families, and we see the devastation. And we really want to find a cure. So this is our way of helping boost that amount of money that’ll get us past and find ways that we can treat the disease and help the families until there is a cure,” stated Tomassucci.
She expressed their mission, noting, “We’re in need of more memory units, nursing home beds, and programs like ours to help the elderly stay home if they are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, or any form of dementia.”
The symbolic 1-mile walk is set to commence at the Family Ties Adult Center within the DICSA building on Carpenter Avenue. While donations are greatly appreciated, the walk itself is open to all, free of charge, and every individual’s presence counts in the effort to raise awareness. The walk serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact Alzheimer’s has had on families throughout the Upper Peninsula. With each step, DICSA’s Family Ties program aims to raise awareness, hope, and support for a brighter future in the face of such a devastating disease.
Those that want to contribute, but cannot attend the walk, can do so at:
act.alz.org/ironmountain
