‘Carole’s Dancing Cheetahs’ Walk team leads fundraisers in honor of loved one

BUFFALO, N.Y. (October 1, 2025) – The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting Buffalo and Erie County residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s on October 11 at Buffalo’s Outer Harbor.

Leading the charge this year is a team called “Carole’s Dancing Cheetahs” – a name that captures the spirit of the loved one they lost to Alzheimer’s disease, Carole Forzani.

“Carole loved to decorate and could really make things pop with her favorite cheetah and leopard patterns,” says Adrian Forzani, Carole’s husband. “And she loved to listen to music and dance.” The couple lived half the year in The Villages community in Florida, where they would go out to dance three or four times a week.

Carole was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in August 2016 and passed away six years later. In 2022, her family and friends participated in their first Walk to End Alzheimer’s in her honor. Adrian says they support the Walk because they don’t want any more people to suffer like their family did as Carole lived with what he calls “this dreaded disease.”

The Carole’s Dancing Cheetahs team raised nearly $33,000 for the Walk prior to this year, and currently are the top fundraisers for 2025, surpassing $14,000 in donations. Adrian hopes they can meet a $50,000 lifetime total by this year’s Walk on Oct. 11.

Adrian says much of their fundraising success can be attributed to the type of person Carole was. Many of the donations come from Adrian and Carole’s former coworkers at Praxair, neighbors and old friends, along with their extended family.

“Carole was an incredible individual, very dynamic,” Adrian says. “She made sure everyone around her felt special and included. Even when she was in memory care, she was trying to help other folks with this dreaded disease. She had kindness and grace right until the very end.”

As donations continue coming in for their team, Adrian hopes they can once again cut the ribbon to start this year’s Walk, an honor reserved for one of the top fundraising teams.

On Walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony — a mission-focused experience that signifies solidarity in the fight against the disease. During the ceremony, walkers carry flowers of various colors, each color representing their personal connection to the disease.

“My hope is that all my efforts will contribute to someone finally holding a white flower, which represents the first survivor,” Adrian says. It’s a hope held by many of the more than 2,000 people expected to participate in the Buffalo Walk each year.

Anyone interested in participating in this year’s Walk can visit act.alz.org/Buffalo to register. The Walk will be held at the Outer Harbor’s Terminal B. Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. and the Walk commencing at 11:15 a.m.

FACTS:

  • More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, nearly 12 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
  • In New York State, there are more than 426,500 people living with the disease and 543,000 caregivers.
  • The funds raised through the Walk ensure the programs and services provided by the Alzheimer’s Association are free to all who need them and fund the research and advocacy efforts which have resulted in new treatments for people living in the early stage.
  • The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.