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About Memory Walk
The Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk,® nationally presented by Home Instead Senior Care, is our national signature event and brings together family, friends, caregivers and concerned community members — who all want to make a difference. Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $200 million to help those battling Alzheimer's disease. Learn more about Memory Walk.
Walker news
The Great Plains Chapter held 23 Memory Walks during 2009 in our Nebraska and Wyoming area. Each walk site had a group of caring community members who worked together to make the walks successful. Special thanks go to the event chair person(s) who scheduled, organized and carried out the grand fundraising plans to help the Alzheimer's Association meet the needs of those we serve.
Volunteers are the core of the Memory Walks and without these amazing people to support the walks, we would never be able to touch so many people in the chapter area.
Some donations continue to trickle in following the conclusion of the walks. At this time, we currently have raised over $265,000--a HUGE accomplishment for the chapter and our largest Memory Walk fundraiser ever! The thanks go to you!
We also have some special recognitions in 2009:
- Helen Bell of North Platte has been leading the North Platte Memory Walk for 15 years and is the top walk fundraiser again in 2009 with over $36,000 raised, exceeded by only the Lincoln Memory Walk. Helen has also led a support group in North Platte for 25 years.
- Hastings set an all-time new high in fundraising this year with over $12,800 raised.
- Grand Island continues to grow their Memory Walk with almost $15,000 raised.
Listed below are the walk chairs. While we cannot list all who joined in for the cause in each community, we CAN say thank you to all who supported Memory Walk 2009! We hope you will join us again in your support during our 2010 walks in these communities MOVING to end Alzheimer's disease.
Alliance -- Pat Deffenbaugh & Patty Tracy
Beatrice -- Natasha Oden
Broken Bow -- Leona Deaver, Jeanette Denson & Sandy Skillett
Cheyenne -- Rhonda Priest
Columbus -- Adam Lassen & Martha Davidson
Dawson County -- Linda Butterfield
Fairbury -- Lyn Essman & Lana Likens
Grand Island -- Stacy Glock & Nicole Campbell
Hastings -- Dianne Atchity & Karen Hansen
Jackson -- Tammy Coy
Kearney -- Alexandra Dillon
Laramie -- Lorinda O'Hashi
Lincoln -- Kris Hall
Lovell -- Denise Anderson
McCook -- Deb Stoney
Norfolk -- Paula Theilen
North Platte -- Helen Bell
Rawlins -- Kathryn Sapp
Riverton -- Heather Niemann
Rock Springs -- Deborah Wood
Scottsbluff -- Sharon Eads
Sheridan -- Stella Montano
Sidney -- Nancy Hiett & Judy Frerichs
If you would like more information on the Memory Walks in your area in 2010, please contact Kris Hall at 402.420.2540 or kris.hall@alz.org.
Choose a walk near you
Most of our walks are held in the fall of the year. Please check back later for dates and places for 2010 memory walks.
Start a team
Forming a team for the Memory Walk can enhance your experience and multiply your impact on the fight against Alzheimer's. Together, as a team, you are a force much greater than what you can accomplish alone.
NELSON FAMILY TEAM A Family’s Personal Journey in the Walk Against Alzheimer’s Disease
Melissa Mecham planned her own 21st birthday celebration. Invitations were sent and special t-shirts were designed. She invited family and friends to step out with her, not up and down “O” Street, but rather through Antelope Park.
On September 14, 2002, Melissa led the team she had organized, the Nelson Family Team, on their first Alzheimer’s Walk. With her best friend, Tammy Nguyen, by her side, and her parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends following behind, Melissa celebrated her 21st birthday by honoring her grandfather, Clarence Nelson.
It was a fitting thing to do as just days after 9/11, on her 20th birthday, Melissa learned that her Grandpa Nelson had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The news was heartbreaking. During the weeks and months following, Melissa and the Nelson family learned all they could about the disease and supported Clarence and his wife, DeLoris, as life began to change around them.
Trips to Newman Grove were many, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, taking Clarence for walks, even loading him in his wheelchair into the back of a pick-up so that he could spend time on the family farm. The Nelson kids and grandkids took each step in the Alzheimer’s journey with their parents and grandparents.
Melissa organized the team again in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Then came 2006--a devastating year for Melissa and her family. In January Melissa’s father, Scott Mecham, died suddenly. A few weeks later Grandpa Nelson died, and shortly after the family also mourned the death of Grandma Nelson--so much heartache in such a short time.
When Melissa gathered the family in 2006 things were much different. They walked in memory of Grandpa Nelson and in honor of the love and care Grandma Nelson gave him. They walked without Scott. Awaiting clearance to bring the newest member of the Nelson Team home, Melissa’s brother, Shane, sister-in-law, Heather, and 8-month old nephew, Lucas Scott Culpatan Mecham, were walking “with” the Nelson Team in Antigua, Guatemala.
In 2007, five years after the 21st birthday celebration, six years after they were first impacted by Alzheimer’s disease, the Nelson Team walked again. This time Melissa organized the team from her new home in North Carolina. She flew to Lincoln for the walk and was joined by family and friends from Kansas City, Omaha, Albion, Columbus, Humphrey, and Lincoln. The Nelson cousins had all designed their own web sites. Donations came from Arizona, California, Texas, Virginia, New Mexico, Nevada, and Nebraska.
Every year team members ask Melissa if they will be walking again next year. Although Melissa has learned that nothing is guaranteed, she remains committed to doing what she can so that some day Alzheimer’s disease will be just a memory.
Fundraising tools
- Walker donation form
Use this form to keep track of your pledges. - Walker Incentive form
Rewards for taking steps to end Alzheimer's.
Memory Walk at a glance
• 23 scenic walks spread throughout 80 counties of Greater Nebraska and all of Wyoming.
• Wheelchair/stroller accessible
• Entertainment and activities for kids and kids at heart
• Remembrance areas
• Displays from sponsors and community organizations
• Refreshments
• Volunteers are welcome at all sites
Goals for the 2010 Memory Walk:
To raise awareness of this progressive and destructive disease.
To raise $300,000 in cash contributions from walkers (individuals and teams), donors and corporate sponsors.
To increase the number of Memory Walk teams of family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, social/civic/fraternal organizations and sponsor organizations.
