Published in the Pawtucket Times on September 22, 2003
Next Sunday, 87-year-old Ray Bonenfant continues his fight against the devastating Alzheimer’s Disease.
The Greenville resident and more than 1,000 participants are expected to walk three miles to raise money and public awareness regarding Alzheimer’s Disease during the Alzheimer Association’s 2003 Memory Walk in Providence, Newport, and Westerly.
Taking part in the Sept. 28 charitable event- the nonprofit group’s largest of the year – is just a continuation of Bonenfant’s personal fight against the ravages of Alzheimer’s, a disease that afflicts his wife and 25,000 Ocean State seniors. It is projected that in the next decade, 29,000 Rhode Islanders will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Bonenfant, a former controller at a New Hampshire company, began participating in the Alzheimer’s Associations annual fundraiser eight years ago, shorting after his wife, Eugenie, was admitted to an Alzheimer’s unit at the Village of Waterman Lake.
Participating in this fundraiser was one way he could personally improve the quality of life of caregivers and enhance the care and support services for families of Alzheimer’s patients.
Local news coverage of the impending 1993 Memory Walk caught Bonenfant’s attention and he joined hundreds of Rhode Islanders who came together with the goal of raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter.
At this event, he signed up 30 of his family members and friends to participate in the three-mile walk, raising almost $ 700.
For the last eight walks, Bonenfant, who serves as a board member and treasurer of the Providence-based nonprofit group, has been one of the top individual fundraisers. “Walking to raise money gives me a lot of satisfaction,” he said, admitting that he also enjoys the competition of raising money.
Bonenfant also looks at participating in another way. “It is a good family day,” he added.
Last year, Bonenfant and 14 family members and friends raised a whopping $9,000. This year, he expects to ratchet this sizeable amount up to $10,000 with the assistance of loyal family members (two daughters, five grandchildren and their spouses and two great grandchildren). Of course, he’ll have several good friends on hand, too.
Bonenfant told Everything About Seniors he will be back next year to raise money.
“I am shooting for a decade of fund-raising,” he said, adding that daily exercise keeps him physically fit and will enable him to easily walk the three miles at Rogers Williams Zoon.
Elizabeth Morancy, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Rhode Island Chapter, noted her nonprofit group is one of 80 chapters hosting a Memory Walk fundraiser.
Morancy, remembered that only 135 walkers gathered at India Point Park in Providence to walk at the first fundraiser held 11 years ago. The 1993 Memory Walk raised a total of $13,000, she said.
This year, Morancy expects more than 1,000 walkers to gather in Providence at Roger Williams Park Zoo, in Newport strolling down Bellevue Avenue and at the beach in Westerly, who will raise $ 210,000.
“Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that affects the entire family,” noted Morancy. “It is absolutely imperative that we find effective treatments for Alzheimer’s patients while we continue to provide caregiver support to their families,” she said.
Morancy said funds raised by the annual Memory Walk funds the group’s Helpline and supports educational programs for professionals and provides assistance to the affiliated statewide support groups.
Moreover, Memory Walk funds also enable the nonprofit group to translate literature into different languages and to offer workshops in both Spanish and English, Morancy said.
Register today to participate in next Sunday’s 11th Annual Memory Walk and take small steps to ending the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s.
For those interested in walking, ask your family, friends and co-workers to sponsor you. Memory Walk brochures are available by calling 800-244-1428.
Herb Weiss 