Spalding County Senior Citizens Center Supervisor Jo Ellis is overseeing fund raising in Spalding County for the Alzheimer’s Association Southern Crescent Memory Walk, which will be held on Oct. 3 in Peachtree City.

“We have been raising money here in the county for I guess almost three weeks,” Ellis said. “The different groups are doing different things.”

She said the senior center is gathering funds through donation cans or selling bracelets and meals.

“We have raised about $500 so far,” she said.

She said Bob and Kimberly Goldberg of Griffin Elder Law are raising money, as is Brightmoor Hospice and Assisted Living. She said she would like to see more individuals and church groups get involved. She said one church, First Baptist Church of Griffin, is already raising money.

Ellis described how, in 2000, Spalding County generated only $500 for the Memory Walk but in 2008, it generated $5,000.

“That’s just five to 10 people raising money,” she said. “I know we can do better.”

She said Alzheimer’s disease is the fifth-leading cause of death among older adults and there are several people in Spalding County who have been diagnosed with the disease in their 50s.

Kimberly Goldberg explained her family’s involvement in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

Due to her and her husband’s work, they met Fred Brown and Iola Snow, the organizers of the event.

“My husband Bob was the chairperson for a couple of years here in Spalding County,” she said. “We passed that to Jo Ellis this year.”

Goldberg said she hopes that the Memory Walk will become just as large as the Relay for Life.

Those interested in finding out more information should contact Ellis at the senior center at 770-467-4384. Those interested in donating funds should make their checks payable to the Alzheimer’s Association and send them to:

Spalding County Senior Citizens Center, Attention Jo Ellis, 1005 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223.