Media Contacts:                                                    NEWS RELEASE

Jill Center, Chapter Communications Director, 650-962-8111, mailto:Jill.Center@alznorcal.org

Lisa Dowell, Special Events Manager – Silicon Valley Walk, 650-962-8111, Lisa.Dowell@alz.org

GROWING URGENCY MOVES LARGEST ALZHEIMER’S EVENT - MEMORY WALK 2008

·         Every 71 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer’s

·         Alzheimer’s is now the 6^th leading cause of death in the US

·         Currently more than 5 M Americans have Alzheimer’s – 10 M are Caregivers

·         Coming: 15 M Americans will have Alzheimer’s by Mid-Century

(Greater Bay Area, CALIF)  July 9, 2008 – Thousands of Greater Bay Area residents are on the MOVE to end Alzheimer’s disease, many forming teams for the annual Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk.  The Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, advocacy and research.  Held annually in hundreds of communities across the nation, this inspiring event calls on volunteers of all ages to become champions in the fight against Alzheimer’s.  Champions include people living with the disease, friends, caregivers, scientists, and business and community leaders.  Memory Walk began in 1989 with nine Alzheimer’s Association chapters raising $149,000 from 1,249 participants.  In 1993, Memory Walk went nationwide and raised $4.5 million at 167 sites.  In 2007, Memory Walk raised more than $35 million and was held in 570 locations across the country.  The nationwide 2008 Memory Walk goals are: 25,000 volunteers; 200,000 participants; and $45 million raised.  

In 2007 the Greater Bay Area Memory Walk, with 7,000 in attendance on Treasure Island, became the first Million Dollar Walk in the US.  The Silicon Valley Walk was added this year to reach the thousands of Santa Clara County residents who have been touched by Alzheimer’s. 

When & Where:         Two major local Memory Walks are slated for Fall 2008 – for a complete list of Memory Walks in Northern California go to www.alz.org/norcal:

How:      FREE.  Participants are encouraged to fundraise and all those who raise $100+ will receive, at the event, a commemorative 2008 Memory Walk T-shirt.  There is an incentive prizes program for those raising over $300.  Those raising $1,000+ are Very Important Fundraisers (VIF) and will receive special benefits. 

               Registration information, including how to form teams, easily set up team Web pages and tracking tools, are available via the Alzheimer’s Association, at: www.alz.org/norcal, or 800-272-3900.

 Media:  Interview and photo opportunities with Team Captains, family members and Alzheimer’s Association staff are available at any time before and during Memory Walk events, including with Co-Chairs – each is an Alzheimer’s family member and part of the volunteer leadership of the Northern California Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

          CBS 5 and CW Bay Area are this year’s Memory Walk television sponsors for both the Treasure Island and Silicon Valley Walks.  The radio sponsor is KFOG-104.5 FM.

            Silicon Valley Walkers will be lead by co-chairs Peter Daly and Grace Lee.  San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed will be on hand to launch the walk.

          Treasure Island Walkers will be joined by CBS 5 Eyewitness News Sports Anchor Dennis O’Donnell – this year’s Master of Ceremonies, and Memory Walk 2008 co-chairs June Darmanian and Rick Smith.   

Rick Smith said, “If Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder has touched someone, they need to come to Memory Walk to see what a national movement to defeat Alzheimer’s looks like.”

June Darmanian said, “MOVE is the theme for this year’s Memory Walk.  We’re telling people that each of us can help move a nation to end Alzheimer’s.”

  Grace Lee said: “We tell people: You may be one person, but you can move a nation.  Start a team today.  You invite three people, and they invite three people.  Before you know it, you have a team.” 

Peter Daly said, “We’re asking thousands of Bay Area residents to please help move a nation to end Alzheimer’s.  As a family member my family and I have been gratified by the growth not only of Memory Walk the event, but also the cause of Alzheimer’s which for more and more of us is now a mission.”

What to expect at Memory Walk – Participants & Team Captains:

Parking/Public Transportation - Free parking is available at the walk.  In Silicon Valley, you can also take VTA to the Diridon Station and for our Treasure Island walkers we offer a free shuttle from Market and Spear Street (Embarcadero BART) in San Francisco.

Check-In - All walkers are asked to check-in when you arrive at the Memory Walk. If you are pre-registered, check-in will be quick and easy. We’ll collect any additional donations and give you your t-shirt ticket (only those that raise over $100).

Team Meeting Area - Our top 25 teams at Treasure Island and our top 10 Teams at Silicon Valley will have a reserved picnic table in our Team Meeting Area. Be a top fundraising team and you’ll have your very own spot to gather your team.

Memory Lane/Sponsor Area – In addition to food and beverage vendors, pick up information from all of our Corporate Sponsors; visit the Alzheimer’s Association table for more information on Alzheimer’s disease and the organization; and don’t forget to stop at the Advocacy table to make your VOICE heard in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

Tribute Flags - For a $10 donation you can get a Tribute Flag to inscribe with the name of your loved one. The Tribute Flags are then hung annually at the Memory Walk.

Remembrance Area - Bring a photo of your loved one or leave a note in our Remembrance Area.

Entertainment - We have all kinds of entertainment for the whole family, including a children’s play area, morning warm-ups, Taiko drummers, and a post walk concert.

Walking the Routes – All are scenic, flat and wheelchair accessible.  Memory Walk is a noncompetitive walk, and a festive event for families, coworkers and friends of all ages:

      The Treasure Island Memory Walk features a scenic 3-mile walk and 1.5-mile shortcut that afford beautiful views of San Francisco, Oakland, Angel Island and the Bay.  

      The Silicon Valley Memory Walk, next to HP Pavilion, features a 3-mile walk, or 1.5 mile shortcut, along the Guadalupe River Parkway.   

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates there are over 5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease, about 220,000 in Northern California.  Without a cure by 2050, when baby boomers will be at greatest risk, there will likely be a 300% increase in cases.  The Alzheimer’s disease process likely begins ten to twenty years before symptoms emerge.  Finding a treatment that could delay onset by five years could reduce the number of individuals with Alzheimer’s by nearly 50 percent. 

Memory Walk proceeds remain in the local community and are applied toward the growing need for Association services, including a 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900), free newsletter, support groups (caregivers and early stage individuals), information, education and training, online Helpline (www.alz.org/norcal), collaborative partnerships with diverse communities, advocacy and research.  The Alzheimer’s Association has awarded more than $225 million in peer-reviewed research grants since 1982 and is the largest private funder of Alzheimer research.   

Presenting Sponsors: 

  Memory Walk is nationally presented with the support of Genworth Financial.

  The Silicon Valley Memory Walk Presenting Sponsor is:   Bridge Bank.

  The San Francisco Treasure Island Memory Walk Presenting Sponsor is: Elan Pharmaceuticals.

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The Alzheimer’s Association is America’s leading non-governmental provider of support and education for Alzheimer’s patients, families and healthcare providers.  Memory Walk is organized by the Alzheimer’s Association and by families and individuals touched by Alzheimer’s, to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association’s three-fold mission: To eliminate Alzheimer’s through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.  Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $265 million and is the largest national Alzheimer’s disease fundraising event. 

Media Contacts – also, for interviews and public affairs programming segments: 

Jill Center, Chapter Communications Director, 650-962-8111, mailto:Jill.Center@alznorcal.org

Lisa Dowell, Special Events Manager – Silicon Valley Walk, 650-962-8111, Lisa.Dowell@alz.org