DSU Walk to End Alzheimer’s raises over $25,000!

There wasn't a game at Trailblazer Stadium on the morning of September 14, 2019, but there were hundreds of people ready to battle against Alzheimer’s disease at the Blaze 2 End ALZ event hosted and sponsored by the DSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Dixie State is the first university in Utah to host this walk event. The vision to host the walk at DSU came from Associate Athletic Director Wendi Bulkley. Having young people engaged in this cause helped to educate them about a disease that is wreaking havoc on our parents and grandparents. With an estimated 1 in 10 adults over the age of 65 having Alzheimer’s it's important to prepare the younger generation about its impact. “DSU athletes came out in force,” said Mike Miller, Regional Manager for the Alzheimer’s Association, “setting up tables and chairs, posting signs along the walk route, cheering participants, and anything else they could do to welcome and support guests at the walk. Wendi Bulkley and Cameron Chatwin (SAAC President) were instrumental in making this walk a total success. Their leadership brought clarity to the project for student athletes and they responded in force." The campus CNA/Nursing Students Club, the Population Health Club and other students and faculty joined in. In total, more than 60 groups were on campus for the walk. Prior to the walk, guests learned about research projects focused on finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and opportunities for engagement in advocacy and volunteer work. More than $25,000 was raised by the walk, which supports local programs and services in southern Utah. This includes caregiver support groups, which are crucial for those serving as caregivers because of the demanding nature of their work. In addition to support from Dixie State University, other regional sponsors who made the Walk to End Alzheimer’s possible include Ovation at Sienna Hills, Roxberry Juice Co., Southgate Senior Living, Spilsbury Mortuary, and The Wentworth at the Meadows.