Co-chairs named for Orange/Sullivan Alzheimer's Walk

MONTGOMERY - Joann Carpana and Kathy Wills have been named co-chairs of the Orange/Sullivan Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which is set for Sunday, Oct. 18, at Thomas Bull Memorial Park. Both have previous experience with the Association, as volunteers and walk participants.

“With all their past experience working for our cause, Joann and Kathy are ideal leaders to motivate others and grow our walk. I applaud their dedication and look forward to a successful walk season,” said Walk Manager Sue Bunce.

Carpana retired in 2016 after a career in health care, most recently serving as accreditation manager for continuing medical education at the NYU School of Medicine, where she worked for 26 years. She had also previously worked as a meeting and conference planner for NYU School of Medicine. For the past two years, she has been an office volunteer at the Alzheimer’s Association’s Middletown office and has participated in the Orange/Sullivan Walk.

“I have seen the wonderful work this organization does and the impact it has on its clients and their families,” Carpana said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to become further involved as a co-chair for the 2020 Orange/Sullivan Walk to End Alzheimer’s in its efforts to further raise awareness and increase funding.”

Carpana said that although she has no immediate relatives who have had Alzheimer’s, she has had relatives and friends affected by dementia. “It is in their honor that I serve,” she said.

Wills, a New Windsor resident, is a longtime Alzheimer’s advocate, volunteer and participant in the Orange/Sullivan Walk. A court assistant with the New York State Unified Court System since 2003, she previously worked in banking and as a commercial driver for Airborne Express.

She knows the heartbreak of dementia from personal experience because for many years she was the primary caregiver for her parents.

“Both of my parents were affected with dementia. Keeping them safe and maintaining their dignity was no easy task. The Alzheimer’s Association is an endless resource of information, support and peace of mind for caregivers,” Wills said. “I am honored to be the co-chair for this year’s walk. I hope I can inspire many people to join us in the fight to end this awful disease. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s, although extremely emotional for me, keeps my parents close to my heart and more determined to be a part of the cure.”

Registration is open for the 2020 Orange/Sullivan Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Visit orangesullivanwalk.org to sign up, join a team or make a donation.

About the Hudson Valley Chapter

The Hudson Valley Chapter serves families living with dementia in seven counties in New York including Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. To learn more about programs and services offered locally, visit alz.org/hudsonvalley.

About the Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all dementia. Visit alz.org