Thursday, October 15, 2026
For Wantagh resident Armando D’Accordo, whose parents both had Alzheimer’s disease, the Nassau Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a chance to honor his family and support others facing similar challenges.
D’Accordo, an Alzheimer’s Association board member and executive event co-chair, was among about 1,200 people who gathered at Eisenhower Park, in East Meadow, on Oct. 4 for the annual walk. The event raised more than $396,000 for research, care and support programs, surpassing its $300,000 goal.
“For me, the walk to End Alzheimer’s is a group hug that represents love, remembrance and hope for a cure,” D’Accordo told the Herald. “I walk for the people who have been affected and for the families who stand beside them. I walk for those that deserved to be remembered for who they were, not how they were affected.”
D’Accordo, who owns CMIT Solutions, an information technology company in Merrick, became involved with the association because of his parents’ experiences with Alzheimer’s. The disease affects the entire family, he said. The association provides support, resources, advice and reading material to help relatives understand what their loved ones are experiencing and prepare for changes in their care.
“It’s not a straight line,” D’Accordo said of the disease. “It’s not predictable. My advice to people, since I’ve gone through it, is, try to make some decisions, try to get a plan in place. Be ready to change, because circumstances change. There’s so many variables.”
Organized by the Alzheimer’s Association Long Island Chapter, the annual walk brought together families, caregivers and advocates. More than 426,000 New Yorkers are living with Alzheimer’s, including an estimated 61,800 Long Island residents age 65 and older, according to the association.
“The funds raised will help fuel disease research while also providing critical care and support to individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia,” Tinamarie Hardekopf, the chapter’s senior director of development, said.
During the walk’s Promise Garden ceremony, participants held flowers whose colors represented their connections to Alzheimer’s — whether they were living with the disease, caring for someone, remembering a loved one or supporting the cause.
“When you're at the event and everyone kind of holds up their flower one by one, then you can see how everyone is affected by this in some way or another,” Alyssa Ramirez, the walk’s executive event vice chair, said.
Ramirez walks for her grandmother, who is living with dementia.
“Walk to End Alzheimer’s gives me the opportunity to honor my grandmother, while supporting my family, raising awareness and helping create a future where no family has to experience the heartbreak of Alzheimer’s,” she said. “I walk for her and for everyone whose lives have been touched by this disease.”
For D’Accordo, that shared understanding is part of what makes the gathering meaningful.
“Everybody’s supporting each other,” he said before the walk. “Everybody’s at a different stage of their journey with their loved ones, and they really need each other. It’s really cathartic, and it’s really helpful to be there.”
D’Accordo’s reason for encouraging others to contribute is rooted in what his family endured. “To watch people not remember simple things, not know what day it is, what time it is or who their family members are, it’s really difficult,” he said. “Why should someone contribute? To hopefully put an end to this.”
Donations will be accepted through Dec. 31 at Act.ALZ.org/Nassau.
