by Beth Young
The Alzheimer’s Association is kicking off fundraising efforts for its fourth annual North Fork Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Peconic Landing in Greenport Oct. 3, with the hopes of beating its record-setting 2025 total of $123,000.
The walk — one of 600 throughout the country, raises funds for an organization that is the world’s largest funding of research on Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and also provides support for families living with dementia and research-based guides to protecting brain health.
As the giant cohort of Baby Boomers ages, this disease, which steals both memory and vital functions from those it afflicts, has become a massive strain on the U.S. health care system, and its costs are felt deeply by many on the North Fork, which has the oldest population of any community in New York State.
Register for This Year’s Walk
A Staggering Toll, But Much You Can Do
“The recent facts and figures are overwhelming,” said Judy Wichter, Associate Director of Development for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Long Island Chapter, as she led a kick-off event for the North Fork Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Tuckers Taproom in Mattituck May 7. “There are seven million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, and on Long Island there are 62,000. Nearly 13 million people (nationwide) — spouses, children and friends, are providing care, not for a paycheck, but out of love.”
“They give their time, their energy, and often their own health and well-being,” she said. “Alzheimer’s is one of the most expensive conditions in our society today, draining families not only emotionally, but financially, and if we don’t act, the toll will only continue to grow, not only on our health care system, but our communities.”
North Fork Walk to End Alzheimer’s volunteer co-chair Nancy Chandler, whose family sponsored the kick-of event, said she wants to spread the Alzheimer’s Association’s message of protecting brain health through 10 healthy habits that research has show can protect your brain.
“It can help you feel better now, and protect your memory and thinking when you get older,” she said. “What’s good for your heart is good for your brain.”
Those habits include sleeping well, eating right, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood pressure, exercising, challenging your mind, managing diabetes, not smoking and protecting your head during physical activities.
She added that these suggestions are based on some of the best Alzheimer’s research, including the groundbreaking Pointer Study, which examined lifestyle interventions that can stave off cognitive decline, and more research is being done on the link between stress and hearing and vision loss and Alzheimer’s.
Ms. Chandler, who was a caregiver for her mother, who had Alzheimer’s, is now caring for her husband, who was recently diagnosed with the disease.
She said the Alzheimer’s Association’s caregiver support network — including a 24-hour helpline at 1.800.272.3900 and local support groups in Riverhead, Mattituck, Greenport and East Hampton, is a great lifeline to other people facing the same challenges. The Alzheimer’s Association also provides an online tool, Alz Navigator, which helps families to create personalized action plans and Trial Match, which connects patients with research studies.
“We want to be your partner in this journey every step of the way,” she said. “It really helps to have people around you who understand and support you.”
Teamwork is the Dreamwork
Walk co-chair Jennifer Drofenik, who is also the Director of Health Services at Peconic Landing, inspired the crowd to form family and friend teams, and company teams.
Erica Colorio, who works for NAKA Technologies in Islip, shared the story of her company’s work to raise $10,000 for last year’s walk — the company’s founder had been caring for his mother, who had dementia, and NAKA Technologies matched the team’s fundraising efforts.
Ms. Colorio said when her company team began fundraising, many, many people she worked with shared stories of a loved one who had suffered from Alzheimer’s.
“So many of us have been impacted,” she said. She added that many people in her company came to the North Fork last year to make a day of the walk and a visit to the vineyards afterward.
The Greenport and Southold Rotary Clubs also presented a check for $1,500 at the kickoff event.
Ms. Drofenik said that, in addition to an online page with ideas for team fundraising, the Alzheimer’s Association also has a fundraising app that can be used to track donations.
The North Fork walk, which began humbly in 2023 raising $27,000, is setting a fundraising target this year of $140,000. Four hundred walkers took part in the 2025 North Fork walk.
Ms. Drofenik said the best way to start your own fundraising plan is to talk to people about how Alzheimer’s has impacted your life.
“Everybody has been impacted by it,” she said. “It’s about the cure and helping everybody get together and help each other out. If you haven’t been affected by this disease, it’s only a matter of time.”
Here’s the registration page for this year’s North Fork Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which includes details on how to download the app. As of May 14, 46 people and 18 teams were registered and had raised $15,480.
Registration for the walk begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. The Promise Garden ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. followed by the walk at 10 a.m.
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