Volunteer Sandra Nutt Sheds Light on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Ashland

ASHLAND, WI. — April is National Volunteer Month, and community members like Sandra Nutt are busy preparing for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Ashland.

Sandra is a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association. She has helped put on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s for the past 10 years.

Meanwhile, her daughter currently works at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Research Center.

Like many volunteers and awareness advocates, Sandra got involved after a loved one was impacted.

“My husband’s grandmother, when she moved back to Ashland, she started to develop it. So we started to take care of her and help her, and then I realized the impact, both personally and from my daughter’s work, that Alzheimer’s had on the community.” Sandra went on to say, “People were not aware of it. It was kind of a hidden fact at that time, I mean people still don’t talk freely about it.”

Events like the walk help to create conversation and connection around the disease. Sandra says, she has one hope that tops the rest.

“We’re hoping that we get the cure, which we call the white flower. We have different flowers at the walk and each flower represents how you are affected or connected to Alzheimer’s. So if you’re a caregiver, living with the disease, you’ve lost someone to the disease or you’re volunteering to help and it. We’re hoping that the white flower is the one we get when we get a cure for it,” said Sandra.

This year’s Walk to end Alzheimer’s in Ashland is taking place on Saturday, September 7th. More volunteers are needed. The goal is to raise $18,000. So far, $3,600 has been donated.

To register, donate or volunteer at a walk near you click here.