There are many young people on campus, but that didn’t stop sophomore Bryana Langford from helping to run a fundraiser to benefit those affected by Alzheimer’s, a disease that primarily affects the elderly. 

The money was collected in the Ronnie Williams Student Center Nov. 17 and 22. Donations from students and staff alike were given to the Alzheimer’s Association. Those that donated had a chance to enter a raffle to win one of two $25 Visa gift cards. 

Langford set up the fundraiser with UCA’s chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, a nationwide organization that provides its members with community service opportunities that enrich leadership. 

Langford is the president of UCA’s chapter and works at a caregiving facility where she cares for people with Alzheimer’s.

“The Alzheimer’s Association is in charge of researching Alzheimer’s or just, in general, helping those with Alzheimer’s and finding them better facilities to be with people who understand how to care for them,” Langford said.

“I know that, with my family’s history with diseases, I have a big possibility of developing Alzheimer’s,” Langford said. “It’s a horrible disease that everyone sort of cracks jokes about like, ‘Hey, you don’t remember this? It’s because you have Alzheimer’s,’ but we don’t realize that it is growing rapidly and it is not a normal part of aging; it’s like an actual disease.”

Freshman Alexus Wheeler made a donation.

“I donated because I have family members that have Alzheimer’s and it’s really hard to go through that because sometimes they’ll remember you and sometimes they won’t,” Wheeler said. “I think it is something that people should donate to because there definitely needs to be a cure for it. I think it is really hard, not just on one family member, but the whole family. People will make jokes about it, but they don’t really know what it’s about fully.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s disease is described as the irreversible degeneration of the brain that negatively impacts cognition, memory and personality. “Alzheimer’s is not a normal consequence of aging. It is a growing epidemic,” a graphic made by the Alzheimer’s Association said.

Junior Taylor Zimmerman made a donation at the fundraiser.

“I donated today because my family has been impacted by Alzheimer’s. My great-grandma actually had it. It was rough seeing her go through that, so I think it is really good that people are bringing awareness to it on campus,” Zimmerman said. “Students have the power to change things and I think there may be a lot of people on campus whose families are affected by it and haven’t told people or feel like they can’t do anything about it. It’s really important for this young population because we can make a change and bring more awareness to this problem.”

An estimated 6.5 million Americans over the age of 65 are currently living with Alzheimer’s. Donations can still be made directly through the Alzheimer’s Association website at act.alz.org.