In lieu of world Alzheimer’s month, students, faculty, family, and friends participated in the Alzheimer’s Walk on Saturday morning to show their love and respect for those who are impacted by the disease. 

Malcolm Hodge, a junior, architectural engineering student attended the Alzheimer’s Walk in memory of his grandfather. “I never really got the chance to talk to my grandfather as much because he’s a really quiet person, but just knowing that my grandmother didn’t have him in her life anymore, as long as they’ve been together, bothered me a lot because I knew that he was a lot of her happiness and I knew without him, a lot of that would be gone. They were really close,” said Hodge.

“I chose to do the Alzheimer’s walk because ever since my grandfather passed away, I haven’t really had any other things that I could do to really recognize Alzheimer’s or be able to recognize him besides his funeral,” said Hodge. “So the Alzheimer’s walk, I felt like it was something special that I could do just to pay my homage and my respects to my grandfather and my family.”

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. It affects memory thinking, and behavior. 

Hodge’s grandfather, Leroy Hodge Sr., was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in between the years of 2009 and 2010. He was a freshman transitioning into his sophomore year when his grandfather was diagnosed. 

“My initial reaction wasn’t too bad because at the time I wasn’t too sure what Alzheimer’s was so I wasn’t freaking out or anything,” Hodge explained. “I didn’t know that it was a fatal disease.” 

Hodge Sr. suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for approximately three years before he passed away in 2013. 

Hodge has since overcome his grandfather’s passing. He continues to maintain a good relationship with his grandmother.

“Now I’m better,” Hodge said. “I like to check up on my grandmother every once in a while just to make sure that life is still going, things are still going, and she’s still doing well without him. She’s better as well. She likes to stay busy and she likes to be productive and stay involved with her community so that way she’s not just constantly at home missing him.”

Hodge is clear in his advice to others who may be going through what he went through. 

“Remain close with family members and relatives because you never know when somebody will pass away,” Hodge said. “I just like to keep a good relationship, especially with my grandparents, and just call them regularly to see how they’re doing. I’m not asking for anything, but just checking up on them and asking how their day was,” he said.

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• Mija Gary Register Reporter