CaringKind spreads Alzheimer’s disease awareness at 34th annual walk

Millions of Americans die from Alzheimer's disease every year, and The CaringKind organization is spreading awareness about the disease.

Dozens of people walked along the Coney Island boardwalk during the group’s 34th annual Alzheimer's walk.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, deaths from Alzheimer's increased by 145% between 2009 and 2019.

“One of the reasons why people aren't getting diagnosed is because there is a stigma. At CaringKind, we're trying to reduce that stigma…we want people to come out and share their stories, help us get to that clinical trial, so that we can push forward a treatment,” said Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh, CEO of Caring Kind.

Christine Paolillo and her family have been coming to the CaringKind walk for Alzheimer’s ever since her mother Rosie was diagnosed with the disease 10 years ago.

“When it hit our family, we realized we had to do something. We wanted to be with people in the same boat,” said Paolillo

For over three decades, families like the Paolillo's have been walking alongside the organization, which works tirelessly to promote research, education and support those impacted by the illness.

“We really are there from the early onset diagnosis to end of life and so we really don't leave the families, we're there to hold their hands and give them that advise as they need it throughout the diagnosis,” said Tornatore-Mikesh.

The group’s next walk will be held in Central Park on Oct. 23.