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They have raised the money one ice cream scoop and one barbecue plate at a time.

Several teams in the community are gearing up for the Foothills Regional Memory Walk, set for Sept. 27 on the campus of Maryville College. The event raises money for the Alzheimer's Association and its mission of helping those in the throes of this disease and funding the research that will hopefully find a cure.

Amy Whitehead is the team captain for the Blount Memorial Hospital walkers, who number 57. They recently held an Ice Cream Scoop Off as one of their Memory Walk fundraisers. Hospital officials like Administrator Joe Dawson and Assistant Administrator Jane Nelson, took a couple of hours to scoop ice cream at $2 per scoop. When the last cartons were put aside, the final total raised was $882. Other participants included Gunner from WIVK, Beth Haynes of WBIR-TV, Randy Lambert, basketball coach at Maryville College, Steve West, community volunteer from West Chevrolet, and Dr. Melanie Fuertes-Hunt, director of Elder Assessment Services at BMH.

Ed Harper, who is director of Senior Services at Blount Memorial, ate more than his share of the cool and tasty treat. He purchased 25 scoops and said he ate them all. With his $50 donation, Harper helped Nelson on her way to becoming the winning scooper, as she raised over $200.

"We have been participants (in the Memory Walk) going on our fifth year," Whitehead said. "We have done craft bazaars and rummage sales. We did a barbecue lunch and sold $1,500 worth of barbecue. It was crazy."

This was the first year for the Ice Cream Scoop Off but probably not its last. Raising over $800 in a couple of hours is indeed a successful event. Whitehead said they aren't done yet. There will be a craft bazaar, white elephant sale and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 12 at MorningView Village. Proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer's Association. The team goal for 2008 is $10,000.

Just the facts

The Alzheimer's Association estimates that 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's disease in the United States. By 2010, there will be almost half a million new cases a year, and by 2050, there will be almost a million new cases each year.

The brain disease gets worse over time and has no known cure. Symptoms include memory loss, problems with language, disorientation to time and place, misplacing things, changes in personality and changes in mood or behavior. The greatest known risk factor is age.

Other risk factors include family history and genetics.

The disease is named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906.

Big and small

You can be a major employer in Blount County or a 12-year-old student like Mary Baker, who has formed her own Memory Walk team, now in its third year -- and make a difference. In her first year, along with brother David, 9, Mary raised $450. Last year, that was increased to $1,700; her goal this year is $2,000.

On a recent Saturday, her team, which she named Mary's Angels, collected almost $500, sitting at a booth at the Harley-Davidson dealership here in Maryville. Mary also manned a rummage sale last week and added almost $300 to her team total. She has e-mailed and written celebrities, friends, and fellow church members, telling them about this worthy cause. Her great-grandmother, Ruth Christopher, had Alzheimer's.

Mary's grandmother. Linda Baker, is team captain for Liberty Assisted Living in Maryville. She has been a Memory Walk participant for four years, and said she is proud of her grandchildren and their compassion for others. David even collected aluminum cans for the cause.

Soldiers in the fight

Over at Sterling House of Maryville, Connie Evans and her team have created what has become a signature event for the Memory Walk. Evans and her dedicated team have collected donated jewelry and then held a sale, showcasing everything from fine and costume pieces. This most recent sale netted the team $1,800 for the Alzheimer's Association.

Last weekend Sterling also held a Summer Fair as a fundraiser. It featured an antique car, tractor and truck sale, farmers market, cake walk, quilt show, kids games, talent show and entertainment. Evans and the other team members raised $700.

Asbury Place of Maryville held one of its Alzheimer's Association events recently as well. They hosted a community day that was full of activities like a dunking booth, inflatables, K-9 demonstration and more.

It takes months to plan and execute such events. Whitehead said the focus of Blount Memorial's and others' fundraisers has to be awareness.

"It takes a good effort to put everything together but it's worth it," she said. "The main thing is awareness. I want to make sure we have fun while we're doing this and raising awareness."

She said it may not seem like a lot of money when you look at one particular event, but the bigger picture tells the real story.

"That's the way you have to do it," she said. "One dollar or $2 at a time."

And there are still more opportunities to give and serve. Fairpark Healthcare in Maryville is hosting a Campout for a Cause on Sept. 19, and serving up a pancake breakfast on Sept. 20.

Persons who are interested can still participate in the Memory Walk here in Blount County. It will be a day of coming together as one to fight a disease that affects many.