SPRING HILL, Fla. — This weekend marks the seventh annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Pasco County.

The Alzheimer’s Association calls the disease “a public health crisis in this state.”

One resident who is fighting a type of dementia will be participating in his first walk and is sending a message about the people with these conditions. 

What You Need To Know

  • This weekend marks the seventh annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Pasco County in Sims Park

  • According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are nearly 580,000 people in Florida ages 65 and older living with the disease

  • Resident Vinny Celano was diagnosed with frontal temporal dementia two years ago, but he says it's not stopping him from participating in this year's walk 

  • Celano says on top of raising awareness about the disease, he says he wants to send a message about those living with it

It’s tough keeping up with Vinny Celano in more ways than one.

“I play pickleball seven days a week, I volunteer for Special Olympics, I’m on the advisory board for the early diagnosis,” he said.

That last one is the Alzheimer’s Association’s Early Stage Advisory Group. Nearly two years ago, Celano was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.

“I was shocked,” he said. “I was horrified because I never expected this to happen to me, and I figured my life would be over.”

There are things he can’t do anymore, such as driving. But he and his wife, Helayne, will be among those walking in this year’s Pasco Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are nearly 580,000 people in Florida ages 65 and older living with the disease. That’s 12% of the senior population. And 840,000 caregivers provide more than a billion hours of unpaid care.

“I don’t think people understand how common Alzheimer’s is amongst our community,” said Pasco Walk to End Alzheimer’s Executive Leadership Team Member Ralph Lindblad. “There has been some advancement, some drugs that are coming out. They’re not that ‘a-ha’ moment where they save everybody — start saving lives — but there’s an opportunity. They’re trying to see if they can slow the disease down, and so forth.”

Celano says on top of raising awareness about the disease, he says he wants to send a message about those living with it.

“I want people to know that we are people. We are the same. I’m still Vinny,” he said.

At 78 years old, Celano says he’s doing well. He takes medication for his dementia and says his doctor is optimistic.

“If I do what they tell me to do, (the doctor) said there’s no problem that I can’t live for another 20 years. So, I said, ‘I don’t want to live 20 years.’ He said, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘I want to live 22,’ I said, ‘Because I want to die at 100’,” Celano said.

And he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

The walk kicks off in New Port Richey’s Sims Park.