CaringKind holds 35th annual walk for Alzheimer’s in Central Park

Around 900 New Yorkers participated in CaringKind’s Alzheimer’s walk in Central Park on Oct. 22, 2023.

Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

The Fall weather was pristine as 900 New Yorkers joined the 35th annual CaringKind New York City Alzheimer’s Walk through Central Park on Sunday to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers.

CaringKind NYC, which has been around for over 40 years, is the city’s leading expert on Alzheimer’s Disease. The organization supports caregivers and dementia patients from the early onset of the ruthless disease to the end of life, providing essential services like education, caregiver workshops, dementia consultations and coaching services, and support groups, to name a few. 

The event raised over $450,000 and kicked off at the Naumburg Bandshell with a dance performance by the Blue Royalty Dance team of Blue Angels Music & Arts Program and a Chinese dragon dance. WABC-TV news anchors Bill Ritter and Mike Marza led through the pre-walk program. 

This year’s honorees included Anne C. Sansevero, Dr. Anderson Torres, Pauline Yeung, Judith Grimaldi, Sandeep Jauhar, and the Canine Unit of the NYPD, represented by NYPD P.O. Loomis and his partner K9 bloodhound Daisy. 

In January, P.O. Loomis and Daisy helped locate a senior suffering from Alzheimer’s, who was returned home safely. 

Jed Levine, former CEO and current president emeritus at CaringKind, explained that CaringKind had had a close relationship with the NYPD since 1993 when the organization implemented the MedicAlert NYC Wanderer’s Safety program, which helps to identify people at risk of wandering.

“We’ve had a missing persons detective assigned to us since that time. They help us investigate and help us spread the word when somebody with Alzheimer’s or related disorders is missing,” Levine said. “And then dogs like Daisy can be really helpful for people who are not found quickly or easily.”

Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh,…