Alzheimer's event in Virginia Beach on Sunday

VIRGINIA BEACH

For 72 years, Linda Kester’s parents celebrated birthdays and anniversaries together, as well as the births of five children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

But at the end, they didn’t remember any of it.

“They didn’t even know each other at the end,” Kester said, referring to her parents, Paul and Margaret Perdue.

Both of Kester’s parents were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago. The slowly degenerative brain disorder that causes memory loss robbed them of the life they had shared.

Eventually, Kester had to help her parents move out of their Chesapeake home and settle into an assisted-living facility.

As the disease progressed, Kester said, it was a painful process to watch. It’s the reason the Ocean Park resident, along with her husband, Larry, has been dedicated to fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association Southeastern Virginia chapter.

Since 2006, the Kesters have participated in the chapter’s annual Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Already, for this year’s annual walk at the Oceanfront on Sunday, the

Kesters have broken the fundraising record for the local chapter – set by them last year.

“They were the top fundraisers in 2010 for Virginia Beach,” said Kristy Wyngaarden, spokeswoman for the local Alzheimer’s Association chapter. “They raised $24,374.”

This year, the Kesters have already raised $29,295. The next-highest team has raised about $4,000.

Raising the money isn’t easy.

The Kesters begin around June and continue until November, when the fundraising totals for the local walk are submitted. During that time the Virginia Beach couple sets up tables at local stores, community events and flea markets to solicit donations.

They also spend lots of time in their car, driving to local businesses requesting items they can package and raffle off to generate more money for the cause.

The Kesters, Wyngaarden said, are amazing fundraisers for the local chapter.

“They go out and sell raffle tickets and they also do their own fundraising, too,” she said. “They’re awesome.”

About 30,000 southeastern Virginia residents have the disease. Half of the money raised through the area’s Alzheimer’s Walk stays with the local chapter to help fund things such as support groups and care-giving classes.

The remaining proceeds will go to the national Alzheimer’s Association to help fund research. Last year, the South Hampton Roads Walk raised $162,785.

Helping others who are suffering with the disease, Kester said, is an issue that’s important to her and her husband. She lost both of her parents to the disease in 2008, just 27 days apart from each other; and Larry’s mother suffered from vascular dementia before dying in 2010.

“It’s a life-changing event,” Linda Kester said. “It’s heartbreaking, and for us, it was enough to stay involved and try to make a difference.”