Bright and early on the morning of Saturday, September 21, 2024, the CHART organized team, CHART – Illinois, gathered at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana, IL to participate in the Annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s organized by the Alzheimer’s Association. The team was led by captain Alexandra Trekas, a graduate student in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science with an unprecedented number of 16 members from CHART affiliated labs signing up for a spot on the team. The team not only completed the 1.25 mile walk around the picturesque park but also participated in a care-giver card writing activity sponsored by the CHART community partner, CRIS Healthy Aging. The team’s goal was to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research, but the team also raised $510 in donations. The Champaign-Urbana Walk organizers reported 362 people participated with 69 teams who raised $72,389 as of the writing of this article. Congratulations Team CHART – Illinois. We look forward to seeing what you do next year!

The CHART – Illinois Team. Pictured top row, left to right: Minakshi Raj, Samuel Olatunji, Gianna Kohl, James Shim, Wendy Rogers, Sarah Jones, Natalia Rzepa, Teresa Warren; Pictured bottom row, left to right: Kiran Raj-Sweeny, Hye Soo Lee, Raksha Mudar, Natalia Mihigo, Jaya Ashrafi, Sneha Nippani, Alexandra Trekas, Tori Hemp, Tess Giddens-White, Lauren Robinet. (Photo credit: Patrick Sweeny)