Fundraiser to end Alzheimer’s raises $75,000 locally
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Mary Jane Tracy was a joyful and nurturing woman. The only thing she loved more than laughing, which she did all the time, was her family. And they loved her right back. She was a cook, an interior designer, and was her granddaughter’s my biggest champion.
That’s how Tracy Gentry described the woman she knew for years. But that woman faded away long before her body did.
“My grandmother blessed me with a lifetime of cherished memories before she was robbed of her own,” said Gentry. “Alzheimer’s disease brings many painful moments, and for our family, none stung quite as much as when she began to forget who the love of her life was, my grandfather.
“In her mind, she had married a young man, and this old man was a stranger in her house who frightened her. That’s one of the many ways I find Alzheimer’s so especially cruel. You lose someone twice. You lose them first when their memory goes and the recognition fades, and you lose them again the second time when they pass.”
It was Mary Jane Tracy that Gentry walked for in Howard County’s 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s. As a volunteer and organizer of the event, she does her best to honor her grandmother and to do what she can to help bring about the day when no one has to suffer like her family did.
Gentry’s story was repeated in the lives of hundreds of others who gathered in Foster Park to participate in the walk on Oct. 4. Clad in purple, the many walkers turned out to raise money and awareness for the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
The event was kicked off by Tammy Lively from WWKI radio. She, too, has felt the pain that Alzheimer’s brings, as her sister-in-law succumbed to the disease in June.
“This is a mission that is very near and dear to my heart,” said Lively. “Many of us here are going through the same crisis. Looking out here at this sea of people, I am just in awe of the strength and the commitment that you all have to this cause.
“Walk day is the biggest support group of the year, because we gather with others who understand the journey that we’re on. And I’m telling you now, there’s not a person in this crowd who wouldn’t sit down and talk with you, cry with you, or give you tips advice. These are all very loving, generous people here.
“So. whether you’ve walked this road personally, or you’re here to support the Kokomo community, or simply because you believe in this Association’s vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementias, we are here because of you, and we thank you so much.”
Lively explained that the funds raised by the Alzheimer’s Association have made an impact. Today, there are pharmaceuticals that slow dementia in its early stages, and more research is underway to bring additional drugs to the market that might make a difference. But most people cannot yet access these treatments.
“This is why we won’t rest until everyone living with this disease at any age can get the treatment, the care, and the support that they need and deserve,” said Lively. “It’s time to bring treatments home to our friends, families, and neighbors.”
Along the base of the stage at the performing arts pavilion within the park, there was an array of pinwheel flowers in multiple colors. Gentry explained that each color meant as people in the crowd held their flowers aloft.
Orange flowers represented supporters of the cause, while purple flowers designated those who have lost someone to Alzheimer’s or dementia. Yellow flowers were held by those currently caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, and blue flowers represented those currently struggling with the disease.
A single white flower also was present, but no one yet has been able to hold it. The flower represents the first survivor of Alzheimer’s; a goal yet to be reached. But Gentry wants to see a sea of white flowers one day.
“This walk is more than just a fundraiser; it is a statement,” said Gentry. “It says we will not let Alzheimer’s be the ending to our stories. We are here, walking for our loved ones, for those still fighting, and for future generations who deserve a world without this disease.”
With that, the crowd assembled on the walking path in the park and began their trek. During the event, walkers were encouraged to stop at various booths staffed by organizations that offer support and resources to those suffering from Alzheimer’s and their supporters.
In the end, the local organization raised more than $75,000, and they are still collecting. The fight continues. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 31. To donate, visit www.act.alz.org and then input your zip code to be directed to the local walk.
See additional photos from the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on the Lantern’s Facebook page or group.