The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is right around the corner. While things might look a little different this year, we are moving forward to end Alzheimer’s and our Walk team is making that happen! We interviewed the Walk Managers so that you can get to know a little more about them and why they work so hard to make the Walk to End Alzheimer’s a successful event!
Kimber Behrends
Where are you from?
I am from Snoqualmie, WA.
What Walks do you manage?
I manage the Eastside, Snohomish County and North Sound Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
What is your favorite part about the Walk to End Alzheimer’s?
My favorite part about the Walk is meeting amazing people who are passionate about the cause and want to share their stories. The Walk is the medium they can utilize to do that. Encouraging people to unite and share their stories, showing them that they aren’t alone in this journey, and being there as a resource is what I love about the Walk.
What motivates you to come to work every day?
Helping people, providing resources, and working toward a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia is what motivates me to come to work every day. I am just doing my part and utilizing my skills in the hopes of making the world a better place and helping those in need.
Erica Grissmerson
Where are you from?
I am originally from Salt Lake City, Utah. I now live in West Richland, WA.
What Walks do you manage?
I manage the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla, Yakima and North Central Washington Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
What is your favorite part about the Walk to End Alzheimer’s?
My favorite part of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the Promise Garden Ceremony. I have participated in many walks over the years and while I love seeing everyone that comes, the great vendors and booths; nothing compares to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Promise Garden Ceremony! The part when we each raise our flower to show our connection to the cause and all you can see is a sea of color; it gets me every time. This display truly shows we are not alone in this fight!
What motivates you to come to work every day?
My mom was a single mom when I was growing up. She was the executive director for a memory care facility my whole life. I figure if she could get up every day to support me and my brothers, and go to work to care for these amazing people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, then I can get up every day to fight for a cure for them!
Tarah Threde
Where are you from?
I am originally from Anderson, CA. My husband and I moved up here in 2007 so he could serve at the Bangor submarine base. We now live on the Key Peninsula with our 4-year-old son.
What Walks do you manage?
I manage the Kitsap Peninsula, North Olympic Peninsula, Pierce County and South Sound Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
What is your favorite part about the Walk to End Alzheimer’s?
When I attended my first Walk as a volunteer/participant, the Promise Garden ceremony blew me away. It was such a beautiful representation of the community of support and understanding. It is still my favorite part and I always cry, so if you are at a Walk with me and need a tissue, I have you covered.
What motivates you to come to work every day?
The families and staff that I worked within senior living and the volunteers that are so committed to this cause. I often think of specific people I have known or met throughout the years. One particular story was during a move-in assessment for memory care I was working on in a home in Bremerton. As we talked about the care his wife would need, I noticed on his emergency numbers list on the wall, that the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 Helpline number was #1 on the list. As a volunteer at that time, it reminded me how critical the funds raised during Walk were to help this man care for his wife in times of crisis.
Cory Townsend
Where are you from?
I grew up outside of Denver, CO before moving to Southern California for college and graduate school, and then Seattle several years ago. I love living in Seattle and am proud to call Washington State home.
What Walks do you manage?
In my role as Director of Development, I lead the staff who manage and support our 16 Walk events across the chapter. I was previously the staff lead for the Pacific Northwest Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Seattle and I am currently helping out with that Walk.
What is your favorite part about the Walk to End Alzheimer’s?
The people! I’m inspired by everyone who volunteers their time, talents, energy and resources to make an impact through fundraising and community building. From committee chairs to every walker, I’m encouraged to see people working together to have an impact on moving us closer to a vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
What motivates you to come to work every day?
I think often of the many members of my family who have had dementia and try to honor their memory in my work — but what gets me excited each day is being able to connect others who have been impacted with a movement that is changing the future. I feel lucky every day to be able to connect people to a cause they care about and want to support.
Leslie Woodfill
Where are you from?
I am from Spokane, WA (born and raised as they say), I love it here in the Inland Northwest.
What Walks do you manage?
I manage the Spokane, North Idaho, Columbia Basin and Quad Cities Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
What is your favorite part about the Walk to End Alzheimer’s?
My favorite part of the Walk is seeing people gather and the look on their faces when they see all the flowers in the Promise Garden realizing there are so many others that are on the same walk with this illness. They see that they are not alone.
What motivates you to come to work every day?
Finding people that need support and education and the fact that we are raising funds to help find a cure. When my mom died, I said I wanted to raise $1 million to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s and other dementias. With the help of all the volunteers and donors, in three years we raised $1 million. I saw no reason to stop there!
Another thing that motivates me is that I don’t want my kids and grandkids to have to worry about this disease impacting their lives. I want my “wee snaps” to be those white flower holders, who represent a world with a cure to Alzheimer’s.
The world may look a little different right now, but one thing hasn’t changed: our commitment to ending Alzheimer’s. This year, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is everywhere — on every street, trail and treadmill. We’re moving forward to end Alzheimer’s. Join the fight at alzwa.org/walk