Under partly sunny morning skies, at least 200 walkers and runners of all ages laced up for love and remembrance at Saturday morning’s Carson City Walk/Run to Remember 5K and 8K to benefit Northern Nevada Alzheimer’s Association.
The celebration began at McFadden Plaza with sign-ins and a pre-walk/run warmup guided by KaiaFit and Carson High cheerleaders. Walkers and runners enjoyed the fall color changes along Carson City’s west side, as well as music, vendors, raffle prizes, great energy and more. All proceeds from the event go to the Nevada Alzheimer’s Association.
This year an 8K walk/run was added to the event, garnering a few dozen participants, with the main event, the 5K, having the most participants.
Organized five years ago by local realtor Brenda Collings, the Walk/Run to Remember event serves as a tribute to remember those with, or who have died of Alzheimer’s as well as for the families, loved ones and in-home nurses who provide care for those suffering from the disease.
For Collings, the event is a way for her to not only remember her parents, both of whom had Alzheimer’s, but it is an extension to the entire community, filled with families who share similar experiences.
She credits Niki Rubarth, senior program director for Northern Nevada’s Alzheimer’s Association for helping her through the experience and getting the Walk/Run to Remember event off the ground. Collings also expressed her gratitude to her friends who have stepped in all ways to volunteer their time to put the event on.
“I really couldn’t do it without them,” she said.
