Stopping the memory thief: Walkers raise money, awareness, to fight Alzheimer’s disease

MOSES LAKE — Louis Logan, of Moses Lake, participated in the Columbia Basin Walk to End Alzheimer’s, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, Sunday in memory of his mother-in-law, Beverly Hutonen.

“When somebody gets Alzheimer’s, in many ways they die twice,” Logan said.

His mother-in-law eventually lost the ability to recognize him or anyone else. She lost the ability to communicate. So Logan said it was important to him to find effective treatments for dementia, and eventually a cure.

Columbia Basin Walk to End Alzheimer’s manager Jordan Hunter said Grant County participants raised about $26,000 as of Sunday afternoon. The goal is $44,000, she said. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 31.

Jo Keeny was walking for her friend, Fran Durepo, who was diagnosed with Alzhiemer’s.

“I’m doing pretty good now,” Durepo said.

She retired from a career as a nurse.

“Alzheimer’s was my specialty,” she said.

Some of her grandchildren live locally, and it helps a lot to have them around, she said.

Corrine Isaak, of Coulee City, is the director of the Columbia Basin Foundation, which is a partner with the Alzheimer’s Association. But she was also participating to remember her aunt, Liz Funk.

Elizabeth Funk was the oldest of 10 children, and had just graduated from Whitworth University when her father was killed.

“She kind of put her life on hold for nine younger siblings,” Isaak said.

Funk used her Whitworth degree to get a teaching job and gave her salary to her mother, Isaak said. While she went on to marry and have her own family, her ability to live her life was cut short by Alzheimer’s.

“I think we all know someone who’s been affected by the disease in one way or another,” said Paula Zanter-Stout, of Moses Lake.

In her case, it was her mom, Joanne Zanter, remembered by her daughter as an intelligent woman with a sense of humor. Alzheimer’s took that away.

“The dementia robbed her of so much,” Zanter-Stout said.

Lynn Townsend walked for her mom, who was diagnosed in her mid-50s, when her daughter was about 10 years old.

Her mom took care of her when she was little, Townsend said, and she had the chance to do that for her mom.

“I helped take care of her,” she said.

Townsend is older than her mom was when she was diagnosed, and she does wonder what might happen, she said.

“There’s always something in the back of my mind that says, ‘What if?’” she said.

Like the other walkers, it’s important to her to find effective treatment, and a cure.

“We want to end this,” Townsend said.

Money raised through the Columbia Basin Walk to End Alzheimer’s goes to local initiatives, like support groups for unpaid caregivers, families of patients with Alzheimer’s and people experiencing mild memory loss. There are also educational materials and classes for people caring for dementia patients, medical professionals and people with mild memory loss. Proceeds from the walk also go to research into Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

People can donate money to the Columbia Basin Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Alzheimer’s Association website, www.alz.org/walk.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.