Family yard sale ‘walks’ for Alzheimer’s

Published 12:57 pm Monday, August 7, 2006

Many people today are puzzled over the cause of Alzheimer’s, often considered a fairly new, growing, and dreaded mental disease. Those who have or have had a family member or close friend with it, find ways to assist in the battle against it. This assistance mainly comes with financing, or other methods that individuals, businesses, or families can handle.

Mrs. Betty Ownbey Gallmon, husband Robert, and family members — who have participated for the past four years in the local late summer Alzheimer’s Walks — have offered another plan. About a week ago they held a three-day front yard sale at her former home near Walnut Square Mall on East Walnut Avenue. As a result, the Bob Gallmons raised a cash gift of $650 for Alzheimer’s.

“The cash came from the yard sale where there were no price tags. We explained what and why we were doing it, and asked people who came to pay whatever they thought a fair price was on the items they wanted,” said Betty Gallmon. “We’ve never counted so much money in dollar bills and change. To be sure, we counted and recounted it. Perhaps this will encourage others to have a yard sale, or other events, to raise money for Alzheimer’s.”

The sale indeed was a family affair. Commodities gathered to be sold were family contributions, and family members were there in numbers to meet and chat with the folk who stopped. There were friends, strangers, serious shoppers, the buyers, the browsers and the inquisitive. Most of them expressed an appreciation for what the Robert Gallmon clan was doing. Robert, an Alzheimer’s victim, was there much of the time.

It indeed was a family affair in work, as well as in contributions of family items. There to assist Robert and Betty were Debbie Young, daughter; Jennifer Williams, granddaughter and husband, Joe; Renee Davis, and daughter, husband, Jeremy; Alex and and Andrew Gallmon, grandsons; Sherry Ortman, niece; and daughter, Katey.

“While we — as most people — could have used this money, this yard sale was in honor of my husband, Robert,” said Mrs. Gallmon. “Every penny of money went to Alzheimer’s.”

The $650 in returns went to the Dalton office of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Georgia chapter, While the money will be in check form, as a deposit for Alzheimer’s, the Gallmon family members deposited in their own hearts an everlasting deed of love and care for humanity; for people unknown to them, caressing something much greater than money, something which money cannot buy, and a commodity which cannot be withdrawn from that special God-inspired account.

The Gallmons plan to participate in the upcoming Dalton Walk on the Dalton State College campus on Oct. 7.

“We plan to be there, but I’m not sure Robert will be able to walk,” Betty said.

Freda Stephenson, director of Development at the Dalton Chapter, commended the Gallmons for what they did, adding that their efforts could inspire others to arrange similar events.

“There are approximately 15,000 families affected by Alzheimer’s disease in the North Georgia area. This number is ever increasing and so is the need to reach and serve the families dealing with this devastating disease,” she said.