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Members of the local Pilot Club recently participated in an annual walk and helped raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease in downtown Andalusia on Saturday, Oct. 1.

“The Pilot International Brain Power Walk or End Alzheimer’s Walk is an annual walk that happens around the world in every Pilot Club community on the first Saturday of every October. It is a unity of purpose demonstration to bring awareness of our hometown Pilot Club and our mission. The Pilot Club’s main focus is to help individuals and caregivers with brain-related issues or injuries. This walk is just a part of what we do to show support. We hope to expand and grow even more with our walk next year,” Mellisa King said.

There were 10 individuals involved in this year’s walk. “An estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s. This number is steadily increasing. We raise awareness to help with funds for medical treatments and to help support caregivers,” she said.

She is grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s.

“This disease affects so many people. It is very important to me to help in any way possible when a person or family is going through these tough times. It’s awful to be the patient, but it is also very trying to be the caregiver. Both parties need all the love and support they can get. The Pilot Club offers pick-me-up packages for caregivers.”

King is thankful to be a member of the Pilot Club and serve the organization in her role as president.

“They are my extended family, and we all work together to help make our community a better place to live and to try and reach out and support others and our community. Our mission statement is ‘Do More, Care More, and Be More.’ If you love where you live, this is easy to do. Where we live is our home, meaning Andalusia is our home. We all should love our hometown and be willing to give our time and efforts to continue to make it a wonderful place to call home. It takes a village to make something great, but it takes one person to make a difference. Love where you live,” she said.

Pilot Club meetings are held on the fourth Monday night of each month at the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce at 5:30 p.m.

“You are welcome to join us and become a member of our organization. Angelina Jenkins is our membership chair and can be reached at 256-493-1832. She can answer any questions you may have about dues or anything else,” King said.

Pilot International was chartered on Oct. 18, 1921, in Macon, Georgia, by Elizabeth Leonard and 40 local businesswomen. The name “Pilot” was inspired by the mighty riverboat pilots of that day who represented leadership and guidance. Lucy B. Allen was elected as the first Pilot president at the organization’s first convention in 1922.

Pearl Sparks of Florence, Alabama, wrote the Pilot Code of Ethics. It was first presented in 1926 at the 5th Annual Pilot Club Convention held in Montgomery with 69 Pilots attending.

By 1954, the number of Pilot members had increased to 9,900. Membership hit an all-time high of 20,877 in 1985. Pilot International Foundation (now the Pilot International Founders Fund) was established in 1975 to further Pilot’s humanitarian efforts. Since the Pilot International Founders Fund grant program began in 1977, nearly 1,500 grants totaling more than $1.5 million have been disbursed to Pilot Clubs.

The local organization has been in existence since 1947. For more information visit the Pilot Club of Andalusia on Facebook.