LAWTON – Natalie Fitch understands the needs Alzheimer’s patients and their families face when the dreaded diagnosis is pronounced and the ongoing battle to fight back begins.
Fitch, a volunteer for the Lawton Walk to End Alzheimer’s, faced that moment years ago when her mother was afflicted with the disease. Now, Fitch and others are doing all they can to help southwest Oklahoma patients and families.
“My mother was always involved, always beautiful,” said Fitch. “Then one day [we] noticed something was wrong. Alzheimer’s is “very hard on the family.”
Lawton’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is hosting its second annual Purses for a Purpose fundraiser. With a goal to reach $83,200, this year, the event will have a virtual flair because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Purses for a Purpose is selling raffle tickets for a chance to win a Louis Vuitton purse or a purse of one’s choice up to a retail value of $1,500. Tickets are $20 each and the winner will be announced Jan. 1 live on Facebook at www. facebook.com/p4pswok.
All proceeds will go the Lawton Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which fuels the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association. That goal is to advance critical care, support, education and research. Lawton’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s held a virtual walk in October as participants obtained pledges and then walked on their own instead of a large group.
The October walk did not meet the $83,200 goal, so the Purses for a Purpose event was set up again.
Fitch wants families who are dealing with Alzheimer’s to seek help from the Alzheimer’s Association.
“There is care around you so don’t feel you need to carry the burden on your shoulders,” she said. “There are so many things families have to go through. We work with a variety of organizations that can help families and sometimes it’s finding someone who can sit with your family member while you go out for a couple of hours.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. These caregivers provided an estimated 18.6 billion hours valued at nearly $244 billion annually.
In many, if not all, cases, Alzheimer’s patients suffer from a loss of dignity when the effects of the disease take hold.
“Someday, we will live Alzheimer’s free,” Fitch said. “But right now, all ages are being diagnosed with it — even younger people.”
According to the national Alzheimer’s Association, the disease is the sixth leading cause of death. More than 5 million people are living with the disease, and 1 in 3 seniors dies from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
Between 2000 and 2018, deaths from heart disease declined 7.8% while deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 146%, the Association reports. By the end of this year, Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the nation $305 billion. By 2050, costs could reach $1.1 trillion based on the number of people who are retiring or will reach retirement age in the next 30 years.
Oklahoma’s Alzheimer’s statistics show 1,739 people died from the disease in 2018, an increase of 172% since 2000.
For more information about Lawton’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s or to purchase a raffle ticket, contact Sheila Fields at 580-483-1135, Fitch at 580-483-1445, Bridget Randle at 214-284-9325 or Lyndse Sager at 918-697-8880. Those interested in buying raffle tickets can also visit www. facebook.com/p4pswok.