By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
Walkers are encouraged to traverse Route 66 in Yukon during a month-long awareness campaign to promote brain health.
In partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association of Oklahoma, Yukon’s Walk the Route will be June 1-30 along Main Street.
The Yukon 66 Main Street Association is partnering in “The Longest Day,” a fundraising event to advance the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.
The public is invited to walk once during, once or week or daily at their own pace and time in June.
People are welcome to walk alone, with their dogs, friends and family – or even co-workers during lunch.
The campaign will conclude at 9 a.m. Friday, June 30 with a community walk that starts at 528 W Main. Walkers should meet at the Yukon Sunset mural after the weekly Yukon Chamber of Commerce Community Coffee hosted by Yukon Main Street.
“Donations are not required to join our team and/or participate in the walk,” Yukon Main Street Director Vicki Davis said. “Wear your purple, bring your friends and let’s support a worthy cause!”
THE LONGEST DAY
Yukon’s Walk the Route will be nine days after the official longest day of the year – the day with the most light. This is known as the summer solstice, which falls this year on June 21.
Thousands of participants from across the world will come together that day to “fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s” through an activity of their choice, said Karly McNeill, the Longest Day manager for the Oklahoma chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Together, they use their creativity and passion to raise funds and awareness for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association,” McNeill added.
The Oklahoma chapter has set a goal to raise $125,000 this year – and Yukon’s Walk the Route will be a large part of that, organizers said.
Donations of any amount to support Yukon Main Street’s Walk the Route team are encouraged.
T-shirts will be provided to those donating $20 or more; order deadline is June 12 to ensure delivery by the June 30 community walk.
Today, an estimated 50 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, including more than 5 million Americans.
In the United States alone, 16 million friends and family members are providing their care.
Davis and McNeill are urging Yukon-area citizens to “stand up to the darkness” of Alzheimer’s by making a monetary gift to help the Alzheimer’s Association support those facing this disease.
All funds raised directly benefit the Alzheimer’s Association of Oklahoma.
Anyone interested in participating or supporting Walk the Route and The Longest Day should call (405) 350-5999 or visit www.yukon66mainstreet.com
