From Alzheimer’s North Carolina Inc.

Many people in eastern North Carolina do not realize that we have a local resource for Alzheimer’s and dementia information: Alzheimer’s North Carolina.

Having been around for almost 30 years, AlzNC is a statewide organization focusing on education, support and raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and other dementias. One of the major assets of AlzNC Inc. is that all funds raised in North Carolina stay in North Carolina.

AlzNC’s office in Raleigh provides a free helpline (800-228-8738) for caregivers.

Here are some highlights as to how Alzheimer’s North Carolina Inc. has benefited eastern North Carolina:

• Last year, AlzNC donated $5,000 to East Carolina University’s Wooten Laboratory. These funds, raised at the 2016 Washington AlzNC Walk, were given to further the research of Dr. Qun Lu, professor of anatomy and cell biology, and director of the Harriet and John Wooten Laboratory for Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative diseases research.
• Over the last four years, an anonymous donor has given $16,000 to help caregivers who need respite in Beaufort County and neighboring counties. Distributed through AlzNC and Mid-East’s Area Agency on Aging, these funds assisted 17 caregivers to have relief from their caregiving burden in fiscal year 2016-2017.
• To educate North Carolina caregivers, AlzNC hosts conferences and workshops across the state. In 2016, AlzNC joined Mid-East Commission in presenting one such conference in Greenville. This year, a dementia conference is scheduled for Oct. 24 in Fayetteville. Visit www.AlzNC.org for more information and a complete listing of education events around the area.
• To raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease in the community and to raise funds to be used in eastern North Carolina, Alzheimer’s AlzNC hosts the Alzheimer’s Walk and Education Fair on Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to noon, at First Baptist Church in Washington. The Education Fair portion provides free materials and advice from ECU doctors, legal aid and health care professionals. 

For more information on Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, visit www.alznc.org. For more information about the Washington/Beaufort County Alzheimer’s Walk and Education Fair, call Emily Albera at 252-944-3446, or go online to www.alznc.org/washingtonwalk.

To donate to the cause, mail a check to “Alzheimer’s Walk,” c/o Donna Woolard, 100 Blue Bird Lane, Washington, N.C. 27889.