A beautiful Saturday, Oct. 5, marked the conclusion of fundraising for the Memory Walkers of Washington Parish for their first year.

Within three months and with multiple fundraisers, Memory Walkers raised $2,500 for the Louisiana Alzheimer’s Association.

These funds will now go toward helping advance research in the hope of finding a cure for this disease. Funds will also be used to help raise awareness of the disease nationally.

The 1.5-mile walk took place at the Ponchatoula Recreation Park despite the once-looming Tropical Storm Karen.

More than $30,000 was raised from this event, which had 3,000 registered participants.

In response to the day’s events, Kreig Todd, president of the organization, said, “It was truly a great experience and a great time.

“I feel that we, the Memory Walkers, have fulfilled our mission of bringing awareness of Alzheimer’s to our parish, but we cannot stop there. Our mission will only end when a cure is found.”

Memory Walkers will hold its next regular meeting Friday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Maria’s Mexican Restaurant in Bogalusa.

Those who would like to attend are asked to RSVP by contacting Todd at 516-3855 or emailing him at memorywalkers@yahoo.com.

“I urge everyone to come out to this meeting,” he said. “Come as you are and learn what we plan on doing for the 2014 year. We have a lot in store to help end Alzheimer’s, and we can do it.”