More than 69,000 people in Oregon are living with Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common form of dementia. Over 130,000 families and friends are providing care. In 2019, an inaugural Coastal Memory Walk fundraiser and barbecue was held Bandon. The in-person walk returned in 2022.
Stephanie Polizzi, associate professor of practice in the Oregon State University Extension Service Family and Community Health Program, served with two other individuals on the event organizing committee. They selected the date of June 18 due to its proximity to June 21, the day the national Alzheimer’s Association designates to raise awareness through its “The Longest Day” campaign. Polizzi contributed the event logo and designed all marketing fliers, buttons, banners, posters, bookmarks, photo booth props and signage.
The OSU Extension office in Coos County provided the finishing ribbons and buttons, all printing and laminating, five fabric banners and use of a sound system and tablecloths for the event. OSU Extension Master Food Preservers and the Coos County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) unit contributed 100 vegetable seed packets that were stapled to nutrition tips. Polizzi held two “Arresting Alzheimer’s” community presentations prior to the event, which was held on June 18 in and around Bandon City Park. Polizzi acted as event emcee and set up an OSU Extension booth with nutrition resources.
The event engaged over 200 residents and had 100 registrants from all over the United States, with 65 choosing to walk. Walkers included memory care patients and the Alzheimer’s Association’s Oregon representative. The event also engaged more than 20 local community partners through food, goodie bag and cash donations. The Bandon Coastal Memory walk was the only health walk held on the Oregon Coast in 2022. It was the second-largest “The Longest Day” fundraising event in Oregon, raising over $13,000 for Alzheimer’s research. The 2023 walk is planned for June 24 at Bandon City Park.