Alzheimer's Walk is On a Personal Path for One Local Family

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 6 million Americans each year, and approximately 400,000 of them are Texans. Our state ranks fourth in the number of Alzheimer’s disease cases and second in the number of Alzheimer’s deaths. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and has an economic burden of an estimated $355 billion annually. And in Texas, approximately 1.08 million unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 1.76 billion hours of unpaid care at a cost of approximately $25.7 billion per year.

As staggering as these numbers are, for one local family the impact of Alzheimer’s is much more personal than just a statistical number.

Kendra Shefflield Phelps and her husband Robert live in the village of Panther Creek. Kendra has a Master’s degree in Psychology and works as a mental health manager; Robert is a police officer. Kendra’s mother lives and works in The Woodlands as the director of first impressions for The Alainian Executive Suites. And Kendra’s beloved grandfather, Cozby “Pops” Sheffield, suffered from Alzheimer’s for many years before his passing.

“Seventeen years ago, I started participating in the annual Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s event in honor - and later, in memory - of my grandfather and my hero Pops,” said Kendra. “The team I formed - The Houston Lampposts - walks every year to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer's care, support, and research.”

Kendra participates in the fundraising walk each year with her mother Mae, her husband, and several other family members and friends, spurred on each year by the memory of watching Cozby suffer for ten long years from Alzheimer’s, and then watching his wife and caregiver pass away just five months after his death.

Over the years, Kendra and her team have taken many steps - literally and figuratively - to raise funds for their cause. “2014 was a record-breaking year for our team; we raised nearly $10,000 and had more than 60 members on our team. It was amazing, and such an honor to the memory of a man I love so much.”

Subsequent years saw not quite as much money being raised, exacerbated by Covid, but Kendra feels that this year’s walk, taking place on October 2, will be a return to form.

“Last year, we won an award for having one of the largest teams, and we raised $5,000, which was fantastic. We’re on a good track to fundraise this year, but we - and all the teams involved in the Walk - could certainly use your support.”

The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

For more information on the team, visit http://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=14807&pg=personal&px=5344850.