Westchester Walk to End Alzheimer's set for Sept. 24 at SUNY Purchase

PURCHASE -- The 2017 Westchester Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be held at a new location on the SUNY Purchase West Lawn on Sunday, Sept. 24.

“I am really excited to be working with my co-chair, Cindy Shmerler, along with the rest of our team,” said Westchester walk committee co-chair Neil Klar.

The former owner of SQAD, a company that provides analytics and data to the advertising industry, Klar joined the Alzheimer’s Association’s board seven years ago and is a former board chair. He and his wife became involved with the Alzheimer’s Association after the death of his mother-in-law from the disease after a 10-year battle and the loss of his own mother, who suffered from dementia for two years.

Walk Co-chair Cindy Shmerler also became involved with the cause following the loss of her mother to the disease.

“When I found my mother’s slipper in the refrigerator many years ago, I laughed nervously,” said Shmerler, an award-winning journalist and broadcaster. “When she failed to recognize my father and me, I cried. And when she passed away from the ravages of Alzheimer’s, I got mad. Ever since then I have dedicated myself to helping find a cure so that other families don’t have to suffer as ours did.”

The sixth leading cause of death in the United States, Alzheimer’s disease kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and by 2050 this number could rise as high as 16 million, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2017 Facts and Figures Report.

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs. Last year, the Hudson Valley Chapter’s five walks raised more than $1 million.

To learn more about the Westchester Walk, visit WestchesterWalk.org

If you go

What: Westchester Walk to End Alzheimer’s

When: Sunday, Sept. 24. Registration starts at 9 a.m., opening ceremony at 10 a.m. followed by the Walk.

Where: SUNY Purchase West Lawn, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY 10577

Web: Register at WestchesterWalk.org

Contact: Chris Brandt at 646.946.2063 and cbrandt@alz.org with questions

Social Media: Follow Walk to End Alzheimer’s Hudson Valley on Facebook or walktoendalzhv on Instagram.