TCOG Celebrates Employee Tenure Awards
July 1, 2015TCOG Announces 2015 Citizens of the Year
September 18, 2015Texoma walks to raise money for caregivers
By Rebecca Lex, Reporter – KTEN
SHERMAN, TX—Saturday morning hundreds of people threw on their tennis shoes and grabbed their friends to help raise money for caregivers in Texoma.
Walkers spent a few minutes warming up their muscles before taking a quick lap around the Fairview Park in Sherman.
“We’re here to say thank you to all the caregivers around the county 24/7, 365 days a year,” Ron Keech with Grayson Place said.
For the 10th year in a row, Texoma Council of Governments has set up the “Texoma Caregiver Walk”. The walk raises money to help families caring for loved ones with chronic illnesses.
“Those that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, chronic illnesses,” Judy Conner with TCOG Aging Services said.
TCOG explains that studies show, Alzheimer’s affects 1 in 3 people. And over 4 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Many times the caregivers are unpaid friends and family members. The donations in turn give them a chance to take care of themselves.
“Just breaks from their care giving duties. So they can take care of their own doctor’s appointments. The caregivers can then go into the grocery store to pick up whatever they need,” Conner said.
Quality Home Health Care won the award for the most walkers at the event. They said they’re proud to raise money helping these volunteers get some rest.
“The caregivers that go into this respite that we’re sponsoring is to help give them relief,” Deborah Bates with Quality Home Health Care said.
TCOG said each $500 sponsorship provides about 33 hours of respite care to a caregiver.
All funds raised remain in the Grayson, Fannin and Cooke counties. Walkers hope to raise about $15,000 for caregivers.
Originally posted at http://www.kten.com/story/30017123/texoma-walks-to-raise-money-for-caregivers