The clock is ticking toward what is a most important day in the life of Ann Marie Hussey.

For 21 years, she has participated in “A Walk to Remember,” which is a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Resource Center in Dothan. The walk will be held on Oct. 3 at Westgate Park in Dothan.

“The first year, I walked in honor of my dad, Ray Hickman,” Hussey said. “After that, I’ve walked in memory of him.”

Hussey said her dad, a Brundidge native, loved life and loved being a part of it.

“My dad liked being involved and he loved sports,” she said. “So, he found a way to be involved in life by being involved in sports. My dad and Delaney Kervin, who was the headmaster at Pike Liberal Arts, were best friends. So he volunteered as a trainer for the football team and kept the clock at basketball games. He played golf and was just enjoying life. Then, Alzheimer’s took the joy of life away.”

Hussey said it was devastating to see her dad withdraw from everything that he knew and enjoyed.

“He realized that something was wrong,” she said. “He was beginning to lose his ability to communicate so he began to withdraw more and more. My big, strong daddy began to lose weight and seemed so frail to me. He was soon like a little boy again and could not do for himself. We had to care for him like he was a little boy and that was so sad.”

Hussey said she depended on the Alzheimer’s Resource Center for information and support and someone was always there for her.

“They knew the answers before I had to asked the questions,” she said. “They let me know what to expect and provided me with information needed to handle the situations as they came up. I don’t know what I would have done without the resource center.”

As the leader of the Alzheimer’s Support Group that meets at Troy Regional Medical Center, Hussey still depends on the service center for support.

“The center provides our group with the resources we need to cope with whatever situations arise,” she said. “Without their support, we would be lost.”

Hussey said teams from around the county will walk in honor or in memory of loved ones and she will once again walk in memory of her dad.

Donations are vital to the resource center and no one knows when they might need those services, Hussey said.

“I would like to invite anyone who would like to participate in ‘A Walk to Remember to form a team of two or more or just walk as individuals,” she said. “Or, if you don’t walk a donation will be greatly appreciated.”

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Resource Center, P.O. Box 1170, 1314 Westgate Parkway, Suite 2, Dothan, AL 36303.

The walk will be on Oct.3 at Westgate Park in Dothan. Registration /check-in is at 7:30 a.m. The walk begins at 8:45 a.m.