“Walk on through the wind. Walk on through the rain. Though your dreams be tossed and blown, walk on, walk on with a hope in your heart, and you’ll never walk alone.” — Elvis Presley

There’s a lot in life that can go wrong. However, I’ve always been taught to count my blessings.

I guess you could say I’m an optimist. But I still have times when life gets the best of me. I guess you could also say I’m human. One thing that always seems to pick me up is when I move with a purpose. I was a runner in my younger days, but now I walk with gusto to get my fill of fitness for the day.

Seems like forever that we have known that moving makes us feel better. Even those diagnosed with arthritis are told to move in order to manage their levels of pain. And walking has always been a favorite of many when it comes to exercise and recreation.

But this weekend, you can walk and get all those benefits and then some. You’ll not only do your body good, but you’ll also help in the fight to end Alzheimer’s. That’s right.

The annual walk to end Alzheimer’s is Saturday. Registration is at 8 a.m. at Ellis Square, followed by the opening ceremony at 9 a.m. and the walk at 9:30 a.m.

The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to advancing the fight against Alzheimer’s locally and across the country and world. It provides care and support through services like its 24/7 helpline, educational programs, and website, www.alz.org. According to the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 130,000 people in Georgia have Alzheimer’s. So it’s time to get off your bum and make the effort to help not only yourself, but also others less fortunate than you.

And the walking doesn’t end there. The Buddy Walk 2015 will be Oct. 3 at Forsyth Park to benefit the Low Country Down Syndrome Society. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., and the walk begins at 10 a.m. There is also a Festival of Fun immediately after the walk. This is a tremendous, emotional walk, as hundreds of children with Down syndrome will be walking alongside their buddy. Will you be a buddy?

Still not enough for you? Good! Because the evening of Oct. 3 is the second annual “Pacing for Polio” 5K run/walk at J.F. Gregory Park in Richmond Hill. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Richmond Hill, this event has registration from 4-5:45 p.m. The race/walk starts at 6 p.m., followed by music and awards. All proceeds go toward the effort for global eradication of polio.

Yes, I said polio. Here in the U.S., we have a readily available vaccine that has basically eliminated polio in America. But the world is still not safe from this crippling, deadly disease. Today, according to www.who.int, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan have never stopped transmission of polio.

So see, it’s truly amazing what a little walk can do for you and for so many others.

“… if you ever loved me, baby, walk on.” — Roy Orbison

DeLong is the executive director of Station Exchange Senior Care. Call him at 912-531-7867 or email rde
long@galiving.com.