Dan Coker Memorial Tournament raises $12,300 for Alzheimer’s research

The 2009 Dan Coker Memorial Golf Tournament raised $12,370 for the Alzheimer’s Associ-ation South Carolina Chapter. The money will go toward research for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

More than 170 golfers participated in the tournament at the Hartsville Country Club on March 21.

This marked the fifth year for the tournament.

“We had a wonderful turnout. It was a good family event,“ said tournament organizer Margaret Coker.

The country club donated use of the golf course, Coker said.

Alzheimer’s disease is the seventh leading cause of death for people in the U.S. and the fifth leading cause of death for those over the age of 65.

The disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Today, as many as 5.2 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, including 70,000 in South Carolina and 1,000 in Darlington County.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers a variety of services to Alzheimer’s sufferers, families and caregivers. Those include respite services, training for caregivers, educational conferences and symposiums and support groups.

In Hartsville, the Alzheimer’s Caregivers’ Support Group meets the first Tuesday of each month at St. Bartholo-mew’s Episcopal Church at 10 a.m.

The meetings offer education and a place for caregivers to share problems with other caregivers. Much can be done to improve the qualify of life of your loved one and your family.

For more information, call Margaret Coker at 332-7478.