Hundreds Participate In Walk to End Alzheimer's

Longtime area radio personality Jerry Kristafer asked a crowd of hundreds for a moment of silence just prior to starting the Walk to End Alzheimer's at Asnuntuck Community College Sunday.

"We all know what this Alzheimer's Walk is all about," said Kristafer, the morning man at 102.9-WDRC. "In the next 30 seconds, think of the number one, two, and three moments in your life that you never, ever want to forget, because that's why we're here."

After the moment of silence, Kristafer resumed speaking, but in mid-sentence, he paused for a few emotional moments to collect his thoughts. 

"We are here to raise money for research so that whatever memory you just thought of ... you will have them with you for the rest of your life," he said.

Asked about that moment afterward, Kristafer said he was there at the event with his son, Ryan Kristafer, and that he couldn't imagine not being able to remember the day he was born and all the other special moments in his life.  

After the opening ceremony, the ribbon was cut by members of Team Provencher, walking in honor of Tim Provencher, a member of the 1953 Thompsonville Little League Alumni state championship team who is currently suffering from Alzheimer's.

Scores of walkers proceeded behind the college and around the track before returning to the front parking lot. An exact number of teams was not available, but the disc jockey playing music at the event announced that seven more teams were registered than in 2011.

Various civic groups, nonprofit organizations and businesses, including Patch.com, entered teams into the walk. Nearly 4,000 walkers were expected to participate in similar walks throughout Connecticut, according to americantowns.com.