3rd Annual Pub Crawl Raises Awareness, Money for Dementia

TAMPA, FL – What started as a one-time event has grown to an entire non-profit organization dedicated to bringing attention – and much needed fundraising – to dementia-associated diseases.

ALE for ALZ will host its third annual pub crawl on Saturday, June 24 from 1 to 8 p.m. in South Tampa’s SoHo entertainment district.

Alissa Myers started ALE for ALZ in honor of her father, Rick, who was diagnosed with early onset frontotemporal dementia when he was 51 years old. When her birthday fell on the same day as Father’s Day in 2015, Myers decided to host a pub crawl to raise funds for Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness to honor her father’s legacy.

Myers said she was shocked to find out how common stories like hers she learned while she was putting together the initial event, but how low the awareness was of dementia-related diseases.

“Public awareness of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is critically low,” said Myers, 28. “According to data from the Alzheimer’s Association, deaths have almost doubled since the year 2000 and are expected to almost triple by 2050. If we don’t act now to educate the public and neutralize the stigma associated with the disease, it will never get the attention it deserves.”

This year’s pub crawl will stop at the following local bars in SoHo:

• 1 to 3 p.m.: Soho Saloon, 410 S. Howard Ave.
• 3 to 4:30 p.m.: Yard of Ale, 406 S. Howard Ave.
• 4:30 to 6 p.m.: MacDinton’s, 405 S. Howard Ave.
• 6 to 8 p.m.: Dubliner, 2307 W. Azeele St.

ALE for ALZ has moved beyond its titular event to becoming an organization that supports the Tampa chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and produces its own dementia awareness projects.

“Research has shown that awareness is critical,” Myers said. “Sadly, there are still stigmas associated with a diagnosis, even today. We want to transform the way people think about Alzheimer’s and educate people of all ages.”

Tickets for the pub crawl are $15, with a VIP option available for $30. This year’s grand prize chance drawing is a one-week stay at a Redington Beach condo valued at $1,000.

To purchase tickets for the ALE for ALZ pub crawl or for more information, visit https://www.aleforalz.org/pub-crawl/.

Video and image via ALE for ALZ YouTube channel