2021 Walk to End Alzheimer’s Maui Event Shifting to Walk from Home, Oct. 16

The annual Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Maui is shifting to a walk from home celebration on Saturday, Oct. 16 and will feature an online ceremony and silent auction.

“To ensure the safety of our Walk participants, volunteers and staff, we are encouraging all Maui residents to participate in this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s by walking from home in their community,” said Scott Corderman, Event Chair for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Maui. “While the recent Delta variant surge is impacting the way we walk, it doesn’t change the reason we walk,” he said.

This year the association has gained support from some familiar faces: Kalani Pe’a, two-time Grammy® award winning and Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winning singer/songwriter, music producer and educator on Maui; along with Chef Lee Anderson, internationally recognized talent; and Garrett Marrero, founder of Maui Brewing Company. The three are lending their voices to the cause because they have personally experienced the impact of Alzheimer’s disease in their families.

How Alzheimer’s impacts the whole family

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and more than 11 million family members and friends are caregivers. In the state of Hawaiʻi, nearly 100,000 people are impacted, this includes 28,000 people living with the disease and over 60,000 family caregivers.

“I create music because it’s FREE Medicine. We need to continue to sing for our loved ones suffering from this horrendous disease. We are here to bring comfort to their ears and hearts. Our melody is their heartbeat. My music is my Grandmotherʻs remedy and she will always connect with me through my melodies,” said Peʻa.

His maternal grandmother Lu Kahunani Cristobal, 90, suffers from Alzheimerʻs and his paternal grandparents John and Mary Peʻa of Keaukaha, Hilo, Hawaiʻi passed away from Alzheimer’s.

To provide support services to Maui communities, the Alzheimer’s Association Aloha Chapter rapidly transitioned to online and telephone support services and classes for all those affected.

With volunteer support, over 97 classes were provided online and a monthly virtual Support Group for Maui and Molokaʻi caregivers is ongoing every third Tuesday from 2-3 p.m. Call 808-518-6650 to find out more.

“I walk for my mother, and her mother and my uncle and the Alzheimer’s community at large,” stated Chef Anderson, “I sit with my mom in her memory care facility and look at all the residents wondering what they were like before the disease took over their minds. They were doctors, lawyers, pilots, army officers, dancers, band directors, the list goes on. They all have a story and to end this disease would let THEM tell their story.”

Each year participants of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s hold a flower. Carrying a purple flower means you lost someone to Alzheimer’s, yellow flowers represent people who are caregivers, blue flowers are for people living with the disease and orange flowers show support to the mission of fighting the disease. Every flower shares a story.

“My family has been deeply affected by Alzheimer’s disease. My grandma is currently living with it, and we lost my grandfather to the disease as well,” said Garrett Marrero, Owner of Maui Brewing Company, “I hope you can support Alzheimer’s Association in finding a cure.”

The association recently added a white flower to their promise garden which represents Alzheimer’s first survivor, signifying hope for the future. Join our community in honoring caregivers, loved ones lost and show your support by registering at act.alz.org/mauiwalk

An online silent auction is taking place from Oct. 1-10 to benefit the association.

This year to enhance the walk from home experience, the updated Walk to End Alzheimer’s mobile app creates an opportunity for the community to connect. On Walk day, participants can track their Walk From Home and watch prerecorded Opening and Promise Garden Ceremonies. In addition to accessing the Promise Garden to select and personalize a flower representing their connection to the disease and plant it among others.

To register and receive the latest updates on Walk to End Alzheimers, visit https://bit.ly/3CTl7Me

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s.