Walkers Get in Step to Fight Alzheimer’s

Russ Stewart, sales and marketing director for Chateau San Juan, an assisted living facility, was distressed when he realized he wouldn’t be able to participate in Saturday’s fund-raising walk for the Alzheimer’s Assn. of Orange County.

The group hopes to attract 5,000 walkers and raise $300,000 for its programs and services at the fifth annual 5K Memory Walk.

Those services help caregivers and the more than 40,000 people with Alzheimer’s and related disorders in Orange County.

Stewart will be on his honeymoon in Mexico on the day of the walk. A colleague joked that Stewart should walk up the pyramids in Chichen Itza as the walk is happening at the Irvine Spectrum Center.

Stewart took up the challenge.

He has set a pledge goal of $2,000 for his walk up the 90 steps and has raised half from friends, relatives and corporations. He said he is looking forward to the long climb, even though he recently injured his knee.

“It’s worth it to put an end to this horrible disease,” he said.

Local participants will begin their walk at 9:30 a.m. at the Western Digital Plaza in the Irvine Spectrum. Registration, which opens at 8 a.m., is $15, $20 with a T-shirt.

Information: (714) 283-1111.