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Edward Jones is national sponsor for Walk to End Alzheimer’s
coffee-ed jone-alz- 2024
Edward Jones and the Alzheimers Association hosted Thursday’s Great Bend Chamber Coffee at Perkins Restaurant. Pictured here, from left: Kris Sundahl with Edward Jones, a national provider sponsor of the Walk to End Alzheimers; Mark Bretches, Walk Manager for Great Bend; and Missy Zimmer, Program Specialist for the Central & Western Kansas division of the Alzheimer’s Association. - photo by Susan Thacker

This week’s Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Coffee took place at Perkins Restaurant with host Edward Jones and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Kris Sundahl with Edward Jones said 2024 marks the ninth year of Edward Jones being a National Presenting Sponsor for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s. During that time, the financial services firm has raised $45 million. This year Edward Jones is set to raise $5.5 million through its 115,000 associates.

“Our local presence puts us in a perfect position to support the Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” Sundahl said. The website alz.org/walk can be used to find a team or a walk to support.

Speaking on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association were Mark Bretches, Walk Manager for Great Bend, and Missy Zimmer, Program Specialist for the Central & Western Kansas division of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Bretches lived in Great Bend for 18 years and although he’s been gone for 14 years he said it was a great place to raise a family. When it comes to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, it’s something he cares about personally.

“My mother died from Alzheimer’s Disease. If you’ve ever been affected by it, you know what a tragic disease it is. It is a progressive brain disease.”

In 2020, there were 54,000 Kansans living with Alzheimer’s, including 5,200 in Barton County. One in three senior citizens dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. For employers, “One in three of your employees may be dealing with someone with Alzheimer’s,” Bretches said.

“Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure yet,” he said. “They can slow its progression down considerably.”

Researchers are having huge success, and anything people can donate can help make a difference.

The Great Bend Walk to End Alzheimer’s will open at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, in Jack Kilby Square. The walk will begin after a ceremony at 6 p.m.

For more information contact Bretches at 316-512-9711 ext. 1045 or mabretches@alz.org. Visit the website act.alz.org/greatbend.

“Even if you don’t walk, show up and support those families that are dealing with Alzheimer’s here in the community,” Bretches said.


More information

Kansas Respite for Alzheimer’s & Dementia will sponsor a free lunch and learn event from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.24, at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd St. N, Wichita. To reserve a spot for lunch or virtually online, call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 or email dvann@alz.org. This presentation provides a brief overview of the new State General Funding available to provide respite to unpaid Kansas caregivers caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Content will include qualification details, discussion on the types of respite that will be covered, and information on how to apply. There will be a community forum at 10 a.m. on Oct. 9 at the Great Bend Senior Center.


Announcements

• The Great Bend Tribune’s Women’s Expo will be from 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Great Bend Events Center. Admission is free, but attendees are invited to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to the food bank.

• After the Chamber Coffee, there was a ribbon cutting for Adams Brown for their new location at 1520 Kansas Ave. In the afternoon, there was a ribbon cutting at Walnut Bowl, 3101 Washington St., celebrating 60 years in business.

• The CO.STARTERS Core program prepares aspiring entrepreneurs with insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn their business ideas into action. CO.STARTERS is designed to shorten the time it takes to develop great ideas into thriving businesses by applying lean business model methods popular with high-growth startups. It starts Wednesday, Sept. 18. For more information online visit gbedinc.com/costarters.

• Ellinwood Hospital & Clinic will have a family-friendly After Hours event from 5-7 p.m. at 300 N. Park, Ellinwood. Kids can enjoy face painting, bounce house and a “dirty soda bar.”

• Trinity United Methodist Church, 5700 Broadway Ave.; will give away coats on Saturday, Oct. 12. To make that happen, they need people to donate coats they no longer need. Drop off coats at the Great Bend Chamber Office, the church, or at Master Cleaners, 4600 10th St. Place; and say they are for the drive. Master Cleaners will professionally clean the coats.

• The K-State Research and Extension - Cottonwood District is celebrating “Eat Better, Eat Together Month” in October. Gambino’s Pizza, 1309 Main, is participating with an event on Oct. 1 where families drop in from 4-6 p.m. They choose ingredients from the MyPlate food groups to make a pizza to take home, bake and enjoy eating together, for $5 per pizza. Pre-registration is required. For more information contact Karissa Winkel, 620-793-1910.

• Barton Athletics will honor its first-ever men’s basketball national championship team on Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Barton Gym. The ceremony, including the presentation of championship rings, will take place immediately following the Cougars’ volleyball team hosting Dodge City Community College in a 6 p.m. first serve. Attendance for the volleyball match and ceremony to follow is free and open to the public.

• United Way of Central Kansas offers Beer & BBQ on Oct. 6 at Dry Lake Brewing.

• Great Bend Airport Airfest continues Saturday and Sunday at the Great Bend Municipal Airport.

• The Shafer Gallery at Barton Community College will celebrate the “Barton Arts Council Friends and Acquaintances Community Art Exhibit” with the “McKown Masquerade Ball” at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4. There will be live music, wine, and hors d’oeuvres. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes. Admission is free, but all attendees are required to RSVP due to alcohol being served. Email shafergallery@bartonccc.edu to RSVP. This event is for ages 21 and up.

• More than 120 students from 18 colleges will be in Great Bend next week for the Region V Soil Judging Contest, hosted by the Kansas State University Soils Judging Team.

• The next Chamber Coffee will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, hosted by Mitchell K. Haney and Associates at the Chamber in the Board Room, 1125 Williams St. It will be followed by a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. at Kansas CPR Training, 2609 1/2 23rd St.