Community takes a stand against Alzheimer’s disease

Since 2011, Shrewsbury’s Turkey Trot for the Memory has united the local community on Thanksgiving morning to run or walk in support of people and families facing Alzheimer's disease.

A generous portion of funds raised through the 2024 event are supporting the research of Honghuang Lin, PhD, professor of medicine and co-director of the Program in Digital Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School. Dr. Lin recently led a study which found that evaluating cognitive data regularly in older adults can improve the ability to predict whether they will develop Alzheimer’s disease, allowing for early drug intervention.

Ahead of this year’s Turkey Trot for the Memory on Nov. 27, we spoke with Jane Lizotte, who initiated the event in honor of her father, the Honorable Francis P. O'Connor, following his passing from Alzheimer’s disease in 2007. Jane is president of Turkey Trot for the Memory’s board of directors, as well as assistant superintendent for community partnerships and well-being at Shrewsbury Public Schools.  

The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Can you talk about the origins of Turkey Trot for the Memory? How did it get started?

I’m one of 10 children, so holidays are always filled with family. I was chatting one day with my siblings about how special the previous Thanksgiving had been, which began, as always, with our tradition of getting everyone outside for fresh air and movement.

I started to wonder how we could share that joy we always feel with other people in the community—and do it for a good cause. My dad lived with Alzheimer's disease for eight years before passing away in 2007, so an event that honored his memory by raising money for research into the disease seemed like the perfect fit.

The idea simmered until 2011, when I bumped into Jim Heald, who at the time co-owned the funeral home in the Shrewsbury town center, and asked him if we could use the parking lot for a community event. He told me that not only could we use the parking lot, but he would also like to join the committee!

We ended up with a nine-member planning team, including neighbors, family and community members who stepped forward to support the event and dive into the extensive preparation process. Most of the team we have today has been involved since the very beginning.  

We hoped 200 people would show up to that first event, and just over 500 showed up! More than 1,500 people came to the most recent event, so it’s really grown over the years.

Why do you think raising funds for Alzheimer's disease research, like the kind happening at UMass Chan, is important?

Having seen my dad live with Alzheimer’s disease, and meeting others who are struggling with it themselves, I think it’s so important to push forward with research that could potentially lead to a cure. It’s such a devastating disease. I know people who have Alzheimer's in their families also really fear the genetic component.

I think research can make an enormous difference. But it takes money to make that happen. The research UMass Chan is doing is off the charts, it’s so innovative—and we need it now.

Our board of directors had the opportunity to visit last January and meet with researchers who are working on Alzheimer's disease, including Dr. Lin and Dr. Haran [John P. Haran, MD’07, PhD’18, professor of emergency medicine and microbiology & physiological systems and clinical director of the Center for Microbiome Research, who is researching the connection between the gut microbiome and Alzheimer’s].

We also toured the new research building [the Paul J. DiMare Center]. We were incredibly impressed with everyone we met—with their drive, commitment, passion and sense of purpose. The researchers at UMass Chan absolutely have their eye on the prize of finding a cure. They’re inspirational, and we have so much gratitude for them.

In what ways does the event bring the Shrewsbury community together?

I think people see the event as a chance to connect with the larger community while supporting an incredibly important cause. We’ve tried to make it as inclusive as possible. There’s an option to walk for two miles, along with the five-mile run. Community sponsors have tables in the First Congregational Church and on the Shrewsbury Town Common with donated snacks and water, where people congregate before and after the event. We see people of all ages, and lots of families.

While we get wonderful support from corporate and community sponsors, a lot of giving takes place the day of the event through donations from participants and people who are there to enjoy the atmosphere or cheer on the runners and walkers. Everyone has been so generous.

Since the event was largely inspired by your dad, the Honorable Francis P. O'Connor and his struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, can you tell us a bit about him?

Dad was an incredible human being. He was the father of 10 children, a judge on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court for many years, and a kind, patient and caring person who saw the good in others. He taught us that there are things we can and can’t control, and we should do our best to make good choices and help others. He believed deeply that we should use as many moments as we can to bring joy to other people, particularly when they're in need. He truly lived by example, alongside our mom, Ann O’Connor. Our home was always open to people who needed support, whether it was on a holiday like Thanksgiving or for the longer term.

To learn more about this year’s event on Thanksgiving morning, please visit our website, turkeytrotforthememory.org.