"Trails for Dale" raises over $33,000

Sisters Brecka and Shanna show the grand total raised for Trails for Dale is $33,099

At 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, June 24th, a team of cyclists, adorned with glow sticks and headlamps, gathered in Decorah's Freeport neighborhood to kick off "Trails for Dale."

The group included riders from just up the street, and those who had flown from as far south as the Carolinas and driven from as far north as Canada, and was the first of many teams to depart from the tiny neighborhood throughout the day. A quick Facebook live video, and a countdown from ten, and the group was off.

The first crew consisted of friends and family of Decorah attorney Dale Putnam, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease at age 57. There is no cure available to Dale or any Alzheimer's patients, which left his friends and family at a loss. Wanting to help others down the road, Dale participated in a clinical trial at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, in hopes that it would lead to a cure for future patients.  Dale's daugthers were inspired to help find a cure as well. "There is nothing we can do to stop the progression of Dad's disease. It will take his life, guaranteed. But we had to do something, so we came up with Trails for Dale," said Brecka, Dale's oldest daughter.

At 1:00 a.m. the first riders returned, and a solo rider took to the trail. Another transition at 2:00 a.m. and for every hour until 10:00 p.m.  Local businesses, high school groups, walking clubs, and families came out and took an hour, all with the goal of raising funds for the Alzheimer's Association, which conducts research to end Alzheimer's and provides resources for families facing the disease.

Children participated in the Kids' Hour, complete with egg on a spoon races against the sheriff and local firefighters. Teens had their own hour of activities. At dusk, everyone participating in honor or in memory of someone with dementia was invited out for a ceremony to honor their loved ones, and at 10:00 p.m. anyone who rode was invited to come back for a last lap.

The event was a culmination of months of fundraisers, including a Triathalon class at Reefuel and B. Fit Studios, a canoeing event at Hutchinson Family Farms, a bake sale, and a Pizza Hut giveback night. Surprise fundraisers popped up throughout the day on Saturday, including a lemonade stand in town and a fund drive at the Decorah Girls' Softball tournament. Funds were also raised via a silent auction on site.  The event ended with a victory party at the Courtyard and Cellar, where a portion of sales was also donated.
 
Dale's family had hoped to be able to raise $24,000 in 24 hours on June 24th, and planned to announce their total at the victory party. At midnight, sisters Brecka and Shanna revealed the grand total--$33,099 raised and counting, as funds continued to pour in throughout the night.  

The Putnam sisters encourage everyone to take action to fight Alzheimer's.

"In America, we have cures for many cancers, and tools like pacemakers to help with heart disease, so seniors are living longer than ever. As the Baby Boomers age, we will have a huge number of people living with dementia, and we just don't have the infrastructure to take care of so many people. We must all take action. Trails for Dale isn't just about our dad. It's about honoring and remembering everyone affected by all dementias. It's about fighting back so Alzheimer's doesn't become a financial crisis for America. It's about finding the first Alzheimer's survivor." said Brecka.

The first departure takes off for the night

Sheriff Dan Marx takes part in the egg races

Teen hour