Orange County, Florida —
Millions of people around the world have Alzheimer’s disease, and a few thousand people here in Florida have it too.
People who care about the cause and went to the Purple Gala in Winter Park on Friday night raised money for it.
The only goal is to raise money for study into a cure.
The Second Annual Purple Gala for the Alzheimer’s Association took place at the Winter Park Event Center. There were treats, dancing, and lots of friends.
“The Alzheimer’s Association will get the money you give tonight.” “The Alzheimer’s Association for Central and North Florida, led by Steve Waterhouse, gives more money to Alzheimer’s research than any other organization in the world,”
Fans told WESH that by 2030, all baby boomers will be over 65, which means they are more likely to get the disease.
A few new treatments have come out in the last few years, but we still don’t have a fix, and we need one. She said, “It takes more research, which costs more money.”
Over half a million people in Florida have Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia that makes it hard to remember things, think clearly, and behave properly.
That’s 182,000 people in Central Florida.
People can help raise money for studies at the Purple Gala.
The event was started by Paula Rutledge to honor her mother, Jean Waters, who died in 2019 from dementia.
‘Honey, you’ve got to do something to fix this for other families,’ she said before she died. She was an inspiration to me. Rudd said, “She was my best friend.”
A lot of the people at the gala have a close connection to Alzheimer’s, like a spouse, friend, or parent who has it.
“We also know that Alzheimer’s is linked to genes, so stopping it now will also stop it for future generations,” Waterhouse said.
A silent auction, a live auction, dinner, and a chance to contribute all helped raise money at the gala.
Alzheimer’s is not just a cancer of old people, say those who support the disease.
“About 1 in 10 men over the age of 45 will get Alzheimer’s at some point in their lives.” It will happen to one in five women. “So the most important thing is to find and treat it early until we find a cure,” Rutledge said.
This area’s board is run by Summer Knowles of WESH 2.
She was also one of the hosts at the Purple Gala on Friday.
We’ve been told that some companies will match the gifts made by their employees.
