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UCEDD joins in ABLE’s Memory Walk/ Turkey Run with Booster BINGO

SENIOR CITIZEN AND CHILDREN
compiled by Samoa News staff

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The highlight of the month-long campaign for Alzheimer’s Disease awareness led by the Agency for Better Living Endeavors (ABLE) took place last Wednesday, November 24th at the Suigaula o le Atuvasa park. It was a fun-filled family Memory Walk/ Turkey Run and COVID Booster Bingo in collaboration with the University Centers for Excellence in Development Disabilities (UCEDD), in partnership with the ASG Department of Health, ASG Department of Agriculture and ASCC Land Grant

UCEDD State Director Tafaimamao Tupuola said, “We had such a great turnout, and we were able to successfully attract many of our seniors to get their COVID Booster shots to better protect them from this harmful virus.

“UCEDD’s partnership with ABLE, ASG Department of Health, ASG Department of Agriculture and ASCC Land Grant allowed us to access many of the elderly that we knew would show up for the A.B.L.E. Annual Memory Walk/ Turkey Run and also provide great prizes for our bingo winners. We are grateful for the collaboration between departments and organizations to continue this critical work to support our elderly population and keep them safe from possible risks.”

The day started at 11am with registration of teams of 4 for the memory walk/ turkey relay race. At the same time, the Department of Health (ASG DOH) offered COVID Booster shots to participating seniors, and anyone that got the booster shot also received free BE ABLE TO BOOSTER BINGO cards from the UCEDD representatives.

 Prizes from this Booster Bingo were provided by UCEDD, ASG Department of Health and ASCC Land Grant. All winners received prizes of whole turkeys for their family Thanksgiving dinners, food items, household products, bags, toys, decorative items all provided for by the many sponsors of ABLE’s National Alzheimer’s Disease campaign.

ABLE president Sandra Lutu explained the origin of ABLE’s turkey run that started as a Utulei Village event by HC Afoa Lutu and family. The annual event has always been scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving day so that families could enjoy a day with free entry relay turkey run races and winners would receive turkeys and other food products for their families to enjoy their Thanksgiving Dinner together as a family.

This annual event has grown every year and has since been adopted by ABLE, the non-profit 501C3 organization that was founded by HC Afoa & Mrs. Etenauga Lutu.

“Despite the many challenges faced by our families suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, we continue to remain grateful for the many blessings that our Lord continues to grant us with.

“Our mission is to continue sharing positivity and blessings with our community for the better living conditions,” the ABLE president said. She ended thanking supporters in government and the private sector.

ABLE will conclude its month-long Alzheimer’s Disease awareness campaign today, November 30, with a KVZK-TV panel discussion that will air on Channel 2 KVZK. The ongoing ABLE Tik-Tok challenge will also be announced during this panel discussion.

(Source: ABLE press release)