Walking Forward Together: A Community’s Fight Against Alzheimer’s

You know what stops me in my tracks every time? Watching a successful business owner, someone who built an empire with their mind, slowly lose the very thing that made them who they are.

That’s what Alzheimer’s does. It doesn’t care about your achievements, your bank account, or how many people you’ve helped. It strips away the memories, the connections, the essence of who you are.

And that’s exactly why I’m talking about the Walk for Alzheimer’s happening right here in our community.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Here’s a reality check that should wake us all up: More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease right now. That’s 1 in 9 people age 65 and older. By 2050, that number is projected to reach nearly 13 million.

But here’s the stat that really hits home: Every 65 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s. Every 65 seconds. Think about that while you’re reading this post.

In Virginia alone, there are over 150,000 people living with Alzheimer’s disease. Right here in our 757 community, families are dealing with this reality every single day.

This Isn’t Just Someone Else’s Problem

Here’s what I’ve learned in my years of business and life: The problems we think are “other people’s problems” have a way of becoming our problems. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but eventually.

The statistics tell us that two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women. Nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s caregivers are also women. Right now, someone in our 757 community is watching their parent forget their name. Someone is trying to run a business while caring for a spouse who no longer recognizes them.

That someone could be you. That someone could be me.

What Business Taught Me About Community

You know what the most successful businesses understand? They don’t just serve customers, they serve communities. They don’t just solve problems, they prevent them. They don’t just react to crises, they prepare for them.

Here’s another number that should concern every business owner: Alzheimer’s caregivers provided an estimated 18.6 billion hours of unpaid care in 2023. That’s $346 billion worth of unpaid care. These are people in our workforce, our customer base, our community who are stretched beyond their limits.

The same principle applies to how we show up in our community. We don’t just wait until tragedy strikes our own family. We get involved. We support. We prepare.

The Real ROI of Caring

I teach branding, and here’s what I know about authentic branding: It’s not about what you say in your marketing, it’s about what you do when nobody’s watching. It’s about the causes you support, the community you build, the legacy you leave.

When you support something like the Walk for Alzheimer’s, you’re not just donating money or time. You’re investing in the kind of community you want to live in. You’re building relationships with people who share your values. You’re creating a network of support that extends far beyond any business transaction.

Consider this: The total lifetime cost of care for someone with dementia is estimated at $373,527. But the emotional cost? That’s immeasurable.

What I Learned from Watching Others

I’ve seen what happens when Alzheimer’s hits a family. I’ve watched successful entrepreneurs struggle to keep their businesses running while caring for a loved one. The numbers back this up: More than 60% of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high.

But I’ve also seen something else: The power of community support. I’ve seen how a caring community can rally around a family, how local businesses can step up, how neighbors can become lifelines.

The families who make it through with their relationships and their sanity intact? They’re the ones who had community support. They’re the ones who weren’t fighting alone.

This Is How We Build Something That Lasts

“Always Be Branding” isn’t just about business, it’s about life. And the brand you build in your community, the reputation you create for caring about others, the relationships you forge through shared causes, that’s the kind of branding that lasts.

Here’s what gives me hope: Deaths from Alzheimer’s disease can be prevented. Research funding is making a difference. In 2023, there were 42 drugs in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s treatment.

When you support the Walk for Alzheimer’s, you’re not just supporting research and care programs. You’re supporting the idea that we take care of each other. You’re supporting the belief that no family should face this alone.

Let’s Go! Let’s Grow! Let’s Care!

This isn’t about being a hero. This isn’t about getting recognition. This is about being the kind of person, the kind of business owner, the kind of community member who shows up when it matters.

The Walk for Alzheimer’s is happening right here in our backyard. Our neighbors organized it. Our community needs it. Our families might depend on it someday.

The question isn’t whether you can afford to support it. The question is whether you can afford not to.

Because the community you build today is the community that will be there for you tomorrow.

Sometimes the best business decision is the one that has nothing to do with business. Sometimes the best investment is the one that pays dividends in community, connection, and care. What causes are calling to your heart right now?

Chuck Worley
Entrepreneur. Speaker. Mentor. Community Supporter.