Walking Toward a Cure for Dementia

Many of us are living with the loss of a friend or family member to one of the many devastating brain diseases collectively known as dementia.

These afflictions have dreaded names we’re familiar with such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. But the list includes Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS - Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

These progressive brain diseases have differing symptoms and durations, but they all end the same way: mental and physical decline - and death.

But you can do your part in helping dedicated specialists search for a cure AND have fun doing it.

The Southwest Florida CurePSP Support Group invites the public to the 19th Annual Awareness and Memorial Walk, Saturday, March 19th, 2022, at Mackle Park, Marco Island.

The event is a wheelchair friendly, half-mile walk around the park’s lovely lake. It includes lunch, great raffle prizes, a silent auction, live entertainment and a souvenir t-shirt.

Many people who donate to fundraising appeals for medical research wonder where the money goes.

The Awareness and Memorial Walk supports the important work of Sally Temple, PhD, the Scientific Director at the Neural Stem Cell Institute in Rensselaer, New York. She and her team are at the forefront of investigating the causes and potential cures for brain diseases. “There has been enormous progress in understanding the molecules involved in neurodegenerative disease,” she explained. “We’ve developed technologies that allow us to analyze the altered genes and molecules found in dementia patients compared to healthy individuals.”

In fact, Dr. Temple says the research has revealed several proteins, including the prime suspect called “tau,” as being key to brain degeneration. “This research is promising because if we learn about one disease, we can apply that knowledge to another disease. This makes it possible that therapeutics developed for one disease will benefit other diseases.”

Dr. Temple is grateful for the donations that help to pay for the push to defeat dementias.

“I just want to underscore that none of this progress would have been possible without support for targeted research programs,” she emphasized.

“The Marco Island team and the Southwest Florida CurePSP volunteers are wonderful examples of how patients, advocates and supportive organizations come together to accelerate cutting-edge research into the causes of these deadly diseases and potential therapies.”

For myself, I will be walking in memory of my late husband, Don Farmer, who died of PSP and Alzheimer’s Disease last March.

Registration is $25 for adults, $10 for students and includes a T-Shirt and lunch. Your contribution is welcome if you are unable to attend but would like to donate. 

WHO: Everyone is invited.

WHAT: The 19th Annual CurePSP Awareness and Memorial Walk.

WHEN: March 19, 2022 from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

WHERE: Mackle Park, 1361 Andalusia Terrace, Marco Island, Florida 34145.

HOW: Contact Cindy MacDonald at 239-353-3960, cmac5371@aol.com or visit www.psp.org/event/19marcoislandwalk/.