60: Walk

In 1957, the great songsmith Dewey Cox unleashed the song Walk Hard on the world. In it, Cox opined that the road of life could be rocky, but that you must be bold and keep a vision in your mind that you can achieve the heights you want. You must, Cox says, walk as hard as you can in the face of any adversity you face. And friends, today we walked. Hard. We walked for a cure. We walked to keep help lines active. We walked in solidarity with the friends and families of those who were stricken before us, and we walked to let the world know that we still have dreams and a burning rage to live!

I really wish I had written some of that into my speech today - but I didn’t. I kept it real. (For those that don’t know, Dewey Cox is a character loosely based on Johnny Cash in the comedy movie Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story from 2007 starring John C. Reilly.) What I did say was this:

There were over 1,200 people gathered this morning at the campus of the Holyoke Community College for the 2025 Pioneer Valley Walk To End Alzheimer’s, which you might have seen mentioned a time or 10,000,000 in these pages. To date, this particular walk (The walks are the largest fundraisers for the Alzheimer’s Association and there are over 600 walks nationally) has raised over $213,000, of which Team ALZblog has collectively raised over $36,000 - thanks to the amazing generosity of 258 family members, friends, readers and good people like you. I raise a glass to you, friends, to thank you all for your generosity and support.

For those who’ve never been, the actual walk part of the walk is not… hard. In fact it is the community and celebration leading up to the walking that is the moving (again… no pun intended) part of the day. (And yes, sorry, the pun was very much intended. I lied.) For in the events leading up to the walking, there was dancing, conversing, information sharing, hugs, stories, snacks and more. There was a beautiful and poignant wall of remembrance:

And most of all there was support. Support for those who have lost someone, those who are losing someone and those who will lose someone. And for those, like me, who will lose themselves. Unless we can cobble together enough factual information to formulate a cure, or a better band-aid than the ones we’ve got now (which, needless to say, are far better than those of even two years ago). Science is progressing, but it needs (says this particular bearer of Amyloid Plaque) to progress faster. And we walked to shout that need to the world.

We had two Massachusetts State Senators there. John Velis and Jacob (Jake) Oliveira, both were very invested in the cause. I had a great conversation with Velis about future work we might be able to do together, and I’m sure that Olivera would want the same. I connected with the Director of Public Policy for the Alzheimer’s Association and we agreed that we would also do more together. I gave my blog card out to many, and offered my support to anyone who wanted it. It was that kind of day. And when we did do the business of walking, we walked past signs like this one:

which lined the 2 mile walk route. There were High-School students and marching bands, an inordinate number of hockey players (no idea why, but happy to have them!) and people of all creeds and ages. It was that kind of day.

The walk is over, and Wendy and I will take a minute to catch our breath. But rest assured, plans for next year (including, god help me, a group skydive fundraiser) are already being discussed. But for now, rest assured that you’ve heard (probably) the last of this for at least the next few months.

There are other things to discuss - but this post shall not stray from its purpose - It is a post of thanks to everyone involved. From the Alzheimer’s Association who are leading the fight, to the donors, raffle ticket buyers, students, former colleagues, friends, family members, scientists, doctors, business owners, politicians, actors and musicians who speak out and support the cause both intellectually and financially - I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

When I meet my maker on my dying day

Gonna look him in the eye and by God I’ll say

“I gave my word and my word was good

I took it in the face and I walked as hard as I could”

Thanks Dewey. And thank YOU, for being part of this journey with me and listening (reading) to my blathering.

Dy