When battling something as significant as Alzheimer’s, every step counts.

Students at Unaka High School put their best foot forward on Thursday morning with the school’s inaugural Rangers Unite To End Alzheimer’s walk-a-thon at the school.

The walk was organized by members of the school’s Key Club, the UHS chapter of Future Business Leaders of America, and the UHS chapter of Health Occupations Students of America. The three student organizations have partnered throughout the year on a variety of community service activities involving members of the community diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.

Previously during the school year, the students made fidget aprons for local nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s. The aprons feature a variety of items such as zippers, small toys, buttons, snaps, and other things that the patient can “fidget” with. Earlier this month, the students visited residents at Sycamore Springs Senior Living Community to spend the morning assisting residents with a variety of activities including making fidget aprons, dying eggs, coloring, and decorating cookies.

For Thursday’s walk-a-thon, the Unaka High students invited members of the community to join them. Students from Unaka Elementary and Hunter Elementary also joined in on the walk.

The walk-a-thon also featured some special guests on Thursday as some residents and staff members from Signature HealthCARE of Elizabethton Rehab & Wellness Center joined the students for the event.

The walk-a-thon served to help raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, and also to raise money to support Alzheimer’s Tennessee. A non-profit organization, Alzheimer’s Tennessee works to support patients across the state diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and also their families. The organization also advocates for the rights of Alzheimer’s patients and raises funds to support efforts to find a cure for the disease.

During the two-hour walk-a-thon, Unaka High School raised over $400 for Alzheimer’s Tennessee.

Tracey Kendall Wilson, regional director for Alzheimer’s Tennessee, was on hand for Thursday morning’s walk and praised the effort by the students along with the support they received from school officials to help bring awareness to the community.

“On behalf of the more than 110,000 people in this state with Alzheimer’s I thank you,” Wilson said.

Participants in the walk were encouraged to show their spirit by wearing purple and orange, which are recognized as the colors for Alzheimer’s Awareness. Several in attendance were wearing special t-shirts made for the event.

Special awards were given to one male and one female to recognize them for the spirit they showed during the event. Unaka High School student Davey Ensor was selected as the 2018 Mr. Purple and Orange Spirit Award winner. Unaka Elementary student Rebecca Roe was chosen as the 2018 Ms. Purple and Orange Spirit Award winner.