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Newport News Woman Sets Energetic Pace for Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk
Event steps off Oct. 24 at Port Warwick

[Newport News, Va., Sept. 28, 2009] -- It’s lunchtime in Newport News, and an energetic woman with red hair and sunglasses zips around town in a brand new Honda FIT. The car, donated by Peninsula Honda, will be raffled off during the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2009 Memory Walk, Oct. 24 at Port Warwick. The redhead? Well, that’s Rona Altschuler, the Newport News event chairwoman and a powerful force to those who know her.

“If you want something done, ask Rona,” said Dana Geiger, events manager for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Southeastern Virginia chapter. “She and her planning committee have really mobilized the Newport News community by increasing awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and donations for our Port Warwick event.”
Held in cities throughout Hampton Roads, the series of fall Memory Walks events serve as a major fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association Southeastern Virginia chapter. Memory Walk proceeds directly support the local organization, while also contributing to critically-needed research.

While many non-profits struggle to raise funds in a difficult economy, the Newport News walk seems to be defying the trend. Compared to last year at this time, sponsorship dollars for the Port Warwick event are at $13,300 compared to $1,750 last year, and individual donations are at $22,800, compared to $10,100.

A lifelong resident of Newport News, Altschuler works part-time, but devotes most of her weekday hours to charitable causes. She was named Newport News “Citizen of the Year” in 2000 by the Daily Press.

“Rona believes in giving back, and she’s not afraid to ask others to pitch in, said Geiger, who attributes the Newport News fundraising success to Altschuler’s gregarious, no-nonsense nature and her personal reason to find an end to the disease.

Three years ago, Altschuler’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Although she lived close to her parents and is a devoted daughter, Altschuler says she didn’t realize how difficult things had become for her mother until it reached a critical situation. When taking care of daily tasks become too much for her parents, she sought counsel from the Alzheimer’s Association, and then helped her parents relocate to an assisted living facility, where they live today.

Affecting as many as 26,000 people in southeastern Virginia and more than 5.3 million Americans, Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic that is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

“We are raising awareness about a disease that has been in the closet for years and connecting a community in the process,” said Altschuler. “Everyone should get involved with Memory Walk, because we all know someone with Alzheimer’s. It is for all people who are suffering and for those of us who have the bittersweet responsibility of being their caregivers.”

The Oct. 24 Memory Walk at Port Warwick is a new location for the annual events, which will also take place Oct. 11 at Neptune Park in Virginia Beach, Oct. 17 in downtown Smithfield and Nov. 7 at the Williamsburg Community Center.

Check-in for all of the Memory Walk events begins at 9 a.m., followed by the 10 a.m. walk. Registration to walk is free, and collecting donations from friends and family is easy, thanks to online tools available at www.alz.org/seva. Participants may also register by calling (757) 459-2405. The Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk is nationally presented by Genworth Financial. Local presenters include Stephens Financial Partners for South Hampton Roads and BayPort Credit Union for the Peninsula. WVEC-TV and Max Media are the official media partners.

About the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk®:
The Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk® is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research programs. Held annually in hundreds of communities across the country, this inspiring event calls volunteers of all ages to become Champions in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

About the Southeastern Virginia Chapter:
The Alzheimer’s Association Southeastern Virginia Chapter has been helping those affected by Alzheimer’s disease for 27 years. In addition to all of the cities and towns in Hampton Roads, the chapter service area includes Williamsburg and the Eastern Shore, the city of Franklin, and the counties of Southampton, Isle of Wight and south central Virginia as far west as South Boston. The Alzheimer’s Association is a not-for-profit organization that provides services such as support groups, 24-hour Helpline, care consultations, respite care subsidy assistance and MedicAlert+Safe Return, a program to help locate and safely return someone who wanders as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. For more information visit www.alz.org/seva