THOMASVILLE — Elvis is ready to enter the building.

Southwest Georgia Technical College and Alzheimer’s Association have reteamed for the 10th annual Dr. Jim Neill Memory Walk kickoff event, “Elvis, A Night to Remember.”

“We’ve never had a kickoff event with dinner and entertainment, nothing as elaborate as an Elvis impersonator (Robby Pitts),” Tammy Bryant, walk co-chair and nursing instructor at SWGTC, said. “We’ve got the Thomas University Jazz Band and silent and live auctions. We’ve never done anything to this degree.”

The evening also includes a prime rib dinner provided by John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital and Southern Pines.

The walk is held each year to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association, an organization dedicated to helping those afflicted with the disease (patients and caregivers), as well as raise funds for researching a cure.

Betty Sawyer, a social worker at Plantation Manor who lost a loved one with Alzheimer’s, said “everybody knows someone with Alzheimer’s or someone who has been affected by it.”

“People have to wrestle with this disastrous disease that affects not just the patient — who can forget daily activities and their loved ones — but also the families and the caregivers,” she said.

Sawyer said more awareness is needed about the disease.

“Right now, 199,000 Georgians have Alzheimer’s Disease,” Dan Phillips, development director for the Southwest Georgia Region of the Alzheimer’s Association, said. “Every 71 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer’s. It is the number six leading cause of death. Right now, there is no cure and no survivors. Drugs are in the pipeline so we may be looking at years (instead of never) for a cure.”

Dr. Robert Garrison, walk chair and vice-president of behavioral medicine at Archbold, said the event has had “good input from organizations on being sponsors” but community support is still vital to the event’s success.

“Some of the recent statistics show that, as you age, the greater the risk factor,” he said. “Estimates are now, once you are 85 or older, essentially half the people in this age category will have some form of Alzheimer’s. The numbers are going to increase simply because the age of the population is increasing.”

Memory Walk began as a community event to honor the late Dr. Jim Neill, who diagnosed himself with the disease and was the first resident in memory care at Plantation Manor.

The walk was first held at Plantation Manor, then Paradise Park and moved to SWGTC three years ago. This year’s walk is scheduled for Nov. 15.

“In our gerontology program, students have the chance to care for Alzheimer’s patients and see that there are many out there in need,” Bryant said. “It is training for our students.”

Teams are being formed for the walk now, organizers said.

Computers will be set up at the kickoff dinner so people can register. Teams can be two or more people, but businesses, churches, families and civic organizations are encouraged to sign up for eight to 10 person teams.

Items up for auction at the event include a Bob Dixon print, a beach house trip at Mexico Beach (four days), a half-day quail hunt by Turkey Creek Guide Service, jewelry, free meal at The Lighthouse Restaurant, a free home security survey by an ALLPRO safety education consultant, offers from SWGTC, a golf basket and a ride in a sports car.

Residents interested in attending the kickoff should purchase their tickets now. All proceeds go directly to the region’s Alzheimer’s Association, Bryant said. This year’s goal for the walk is $25,000.

“We have 200 tickets and all are being sold in advance,” Bryant said. “We’re over halfway there and, once they are gone, they are gone.”