Alzheimer's Association contest promotes 'Local Heroes'

The Alzheimer’s Association Miami Valley Chapter is promoting local heroes who have emerged during the coronavirus to raise money for “Alzheimer Heroes.”

The Local Heroes Campaign, which launches June 1, allows the public to nominate groups or businesses, who through their profession or by volunteering, have made a difference by helping people during this COVID-19 pandemic. The top five most nominated local heroes from each area city will compete with one another to see who will raise the most funds via votes to support Alzheimer’s Heroes, or caregivers who everyday provide unpaid care for their family member with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.

One vote equals one dollar raised on each group’s fundraiser page which will be set up by the Alzheimer’s Association.

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Karen Carter, vice president for development for the Alzheimer’s Association Miami Valley Chapter, said the campaign is a way to elevate and put a light on the work and sacrifice Alzheimer’s caregivers give every day. In the Miami Valley, 90,000 individuals act as caregivers.

In October, Carter stood on the stage at the Dayton Walk to End Alzheimer’s and was overwhelmed by the view as she looked out at over 3,000 colored flower pinwheels filling DayAir Ballpark.

“Alzheimer’s caregivers are truly heroes every day as they care for their loved ones, often in isolation and while working full-time jobs,” Carter said. “The Local Heroes campaign allows us to come together to honor those community heroes who have impacted our lives during the pandemic and raise funds to allow continued programs and support for these caregivers.”

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Local hero nominations could include grocery baggers, fire departments, neighborhood groups that have formed during the pandemic or even your eye doctor.

The idea is to recognize the groups who showed up to help when their community needed them the most.

“They’re competing to see who the top Local Hero team is. … Alzheimer’s is not going away. COVID-19 is slowly going to creep into the background. But right now, we still have 120,000 people in the Dayton community of which 30,000 are impacted by the disease and the other 90,000 are caregivers,” she said.

Prizes have not been officially decided on yet, but Carter said they will come from local businesses. A virtual celebration will be held at the end where winners will be announced.

The campaign runs from June 1 to June 30. The Association is looking for nominations in Beavercreek, Centerville, Dayton, Kettering, Miamisburg and Springboro. More communities, yet to be announced, will be honored in July.

Nominations for Local Heroes will be open from June 1 to June 7. To nominate a Local Hero, go to alz.org/dayton.

Stories of Hope

We all need inspiration in these difficult times. And as always, this community delivers. We are sharing these stories of hope in action, every day in the Dayton Daily News.

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