COLUMBUS, Ohio — Sonya Glover has a personal connection to Alzheimer’s disease.
What You Need To Know
- Alzheimer’s is a progressive memory loss disease
- There were over 2,000 participants in the Columbus Walk to End Alzheimer’s; Events are scheduled in Cincinnati and Cleveland in early October
- The Columbus walk raised over $630k for Alzheimer’s research and care
Glover is the girls basketball coach at Licking Heights High school and has leaned on her team to help her make a difference since 2017.
Glover’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago. She was her caregiver up until her mother died in June of 2020.
Glover and her team joined over 2,000 Ohioans for the 1.5 mile Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Columbus on Sunday.
After losing her mother to the disease, Glover has used the walk to remember what she loved most about her.
“She could come up with one-liners like anybody’s business,” said Glover. “She worked 30 years in an oncology clinic with cancer patients, and I tell you, she had a heart of gold.”
The event allowed everyone to show their support with a flower. Glover carried a purple flower in honor of her mom, but she wasn’t alone in her grief. Tori Diggs, a player on the basketball team, showed up to support her coach and honor her family.
“It feels good to participate in the community and I feel like it could set a really good example for the younger generation to come out and support causes even if you don’t have a direct relevance to the cause,” said Diggs.
When Glover first started the walk as a caregiver, she carried a yellow flower. Now that she has transitioned to purple, it makes her cherish every memory a little more.
“I miss the yellow, but I’m carrying this one now,” said Glover. “But I surely wish today I had this yellow one.”
The Columbus Walk raised over $630,000 and organizers are still hoping to achieve their goal of $820,000.
The Cincinnati Walk will take place Saturday, Oct. 1, with Cleveland’s set for Sunday, Oct. 2.
Walk Director Ellie Thien said that no matter where you are, the walks are intended to create community.
“Alzheimers can be a really isolating disease, both for the individual, but also for the family and so we like to bring everybody together, caregivers, companies, supporters, families and show them that they’re not alone in this fight and that we’re here to support them,” said Thien.
You can donate to the cause here.
