CONWAY— The ninth annual Faulkner County Alzheimer’s Walk for Alzheimer’s Arkansas raised $32,200, exceeding the event’s goal of $30,000, said Melissa Longing of Conway, organizer of the event.
“It was a record year. The last time that we did $30,000 was in 2012, and last year we did around $24,000,” Longing said.
“We had a great time; we had over 700 people [walking]. And we had a greater number of teams this year than we did last year, as well,” she said.
Proceeds from the walk will help fund educational programs and family services provided by Alzheimer’s Arkansas.
Longing started the walk in Conway after participating with her mother in a Little Rock walk. Longing’s father, James A. Montgomery, and mother-in-law, Louise Longing, both died of Alzheimer’s disease.
Longing said 25 teams participated in the event, held Sept. 13 in Buzz Bolding Arena at Conway High School.
Winning teams were as follows:
Top corporate fundraising team: First place, Team Carpet Center/Alyssa Parks; second place, Conway Regional Medical Center/Jennifer Green; and third place, Hospice Home Care/Trisha Burroughs.
Top community fundraising team: First place, Team McDowell/Allie Longing; second place, Sigma Kappa/Rachel Hiller; and third place, Alpha Sigma Tau/Emily Gould.
Top family fundraising team: First place, Montgomery Family/Roy Montgomery; second place, Bostic Family Team/Carol Matthews; third place, Witcher Family/Hazel Reed.
Largest corporate walk team: First place, Salem Knockouts/Shauna Bradford; second place, St. Andrews Saints/Rhonda Broege; and third place,
Heritage Living/Joanie Hart.
Largest community walk team: First place, Sigma Kappa/Rachel Hiller; second place, Alpha Sigma Tau/Emily Gould; and third place, HOSA/Melissa Castleberry.
Largest family walk team: First place, Walking for Bob-WFB/Stacy Simpson; second place, Witcher Family/Hazel Reed; and third place, Bostic Family, Carol Matthews.
Longing is already planning next year’s 10th annual event.
“We’re going to have a spectacular one. That’ll be a big one,” she said.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.