Walk to end Alzheimer’s held in Liberty Park

By Michele Weisman

The Belton Journal

The Alzheimer’s Association’s 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s held its largest fundraiser of the year at Liberty Park on Sept. 27.

500 participants registered to walk one mile to raise funds and awareness for a cure for Alzheimer’s, and all forms of dementia.

Shannon Eller, Development Manager for Walk to End Alzheimer’s, said, “The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is an event that we hold throughout the entire United States. It’s meant to be a way that the community can come together, show support for one another and raise awareness about the disease. And throughout the Alzheimer’s Association’s history, we have raised close to one billion dollars.

BELTON JOURNAL/Michele Weisman

Luz Rainey with her son, Manolo Rainey, and daughter, Valentina Rainey

“The reason we are called the Alzheimer’s Association is 70 percent of dementia diagnoses just happens to be Alzheimer’s. But we’re still doing research for all types of dementia, because they’re all debilitating, they are all life limiting.

“The money we raise goes towards research. It also goes towards putting resources back in the community, and it helps us lobby our government.”

Luz Rainey came to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s with her son, Manolo, and daughter, Valentina.

“I lost my grandmother to Alzheimer’s. Currently, my sister-in-law, her mom has early-onset Alzheimer’s. We wanted to support for that cause as well,” said Luz.

Frank Garrett, a legend in fundraising for Walk to End Alzheimer’s, passed away this year. Last year he raised $40,000.

On Saturday, they presented his daughter, Bianca McBride, with the first Frank and Ida Garrett Award, to be presented yearly to the person who raises the most money.

The Austin Chapter hosts five walks a year and covers over twenty counties. Their next walk will be on Oct. 11 in Waco. Saturday, 59 teams raised over 80% of the goal and fundraising continues until Dec. 31, 2025. Their 24-hour helpline is at alz.org.