LAWTON – A second annual Purses for a Purpose event raised more than $4,600 as part of Lawton’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s group.
Purses for a Purpose’s committee held a raffle for a Louis Vuitton purse or one of equal value up to $1,500 and a silent auction on its Facebook page recently.
“Both had wonderful support from the southwest Oklahoma community and beyond,” spokesman Alberto Rivas said.
Rocco Bonacci was the winner of the purse, and then presented it to his mother, Pat Bonacci. Rocco Bonacci told event organizers he had never won a drawing of any type, so he was surprised when notified his raffle ticket was the winner, Rivas said.
“Because of the pandemic, we had to switch gears this year,” Rivas said. “Last year, we had a bingo night and raised a lot of money.”
The annual Alzheimer’s Walk is held in the fall, so planning is already underway. The 2020 walk was a virtual walk with each walker participating on his or her own.
The total annual fundraising goal for Lawton’s Alzheimer’s group was $83,200, but the organization fell short this year raising about $40,000.
“We are still blessed and thankful for the individuals and businesses that rallied behind us in this effort,” Rivas said. “We’re hoping to return to business as usual in 2021, and we’re hoping the vaccine distribution will look a lot better by then.”
Walk organizers are currently planning for a typical event and a virtual walk. Last year “gave us a better idea of what to expect if it’s a virtual walk again,” Rivas said.
Nationally and in Oklahoma, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death. More than 5 million people are living with Alzheimer’s, and 1 in 3 seniors dies from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, according to the national Alzheimer’s Association.
Between 2000 and 2018, deaths from heart disease declined 7.8% while deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 146%, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. By the end of this year, Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the nation $305 billion. By 2050, these costs could rise as high as $1.1 trillion based on the number of people who are retiring or will reach retirement age in the next 30 years, Alzheimer’s Association figures show.
Oklahoma’s Alzheimer’s statistics show 1,739 people died from the disease in 2018, an increase of 172% since 2000.