On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s event was held at Keene State on Fiske Quad.
Keene State students were able to participate in a walk to spread awareness of the disease. Participants signed up online and the time frame the participants showed up was from 9 to 9:45 a.m. to walk at 10 a.m. The route distance is two miles long going down Main Street and towards a side street and back down Main Street on the other side.
“The walk itself is a long time event, probably over 20 years in this particular location. But Keene State has been a wonderful partner for us. They have been really fantastic,” said Vice President of Programs and Services Susan Antkowiak.
“Everything you see here is because we have a really good volunteer committee. We have good staff as well.” continued Antkowiak
“It’s been on Keene State campus for more than a decade. We have 30 this year, over the course of the morning who are all Keene State students. Mostly from Phi Sigma Sigma and make a wish club,” said Jess Gagne Cloutier, the director of student involvement.
There were tables set up with sweet treats, coffee and hot chocolate, which was an opportunity to socialize with other students and staff.
The volunteers came in this morning at 7 a.m. and finished setting up tents and signs to make it known to other volunteers and participants of where to meet for the event. Other booths were set up for volunteers to grab a t-shirt as well as a check-in station that had volunteers available to answer questions regarding the event.
The event was being held until a little after noon with the time it took some participants to walk, but anyone is more than welcome to stay and socialize longer. The volunteers took shifts in the morning and afternoon shifts to help clean up.
“My position is chairman in the sorority Phi Sigma Sigma, I was approached with this event by my sorority to volunteer for a specific event that involves community service and I reached out to my sorority members to volunteer,” said sophomore Sarah Stagg.
Junior nursing major Erica Szewczyk stated, “Nursing club and importance of Alzheimers,” is what brought her to participate in walking this event.
“I remember my freshman year coming out to it and hearing all the speeches and it made me feel inspired to volunteer,” said junior Mabelle Bessette.
With questions regarding Alzheimer’s in general, how to donate or to participate in the next walk, visit the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s website.
Tamy Jacques can be contacted at
tjacques@kscequinox.com
2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Western New Hampshire – Keene, NH | Walk to End Alzheimer’s
