“We’ll speak to anyone, support this however we can and use our resources to help,” said Gonlag, who along with his wife Donna came from Buffalo to speak with Batavia walkers. “Everyone has been effected by it, but people just don’t talk about it.”

Gonlag was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2014 after a series of memory losses that couldn’t be attributed to aging. Along with cognitive memory loss, it impacts his emotions and stress.

A co-worker connected him to the Alzheimer’s Association, part of the education he urges the newly-diagnosed and at-risk to act quickly toward.

“People still working with the early signs put it off, it effects their home live,” he said. “Get a neurological appointment, if for nothing else, it’s educational for caregivers.”

He echoed what Horgan said was the best advice she and her husband received — see an lawyer as soon as possible to ensure wills, power of attorney and clear preferences are recorded.

Donna Gonlag and her husband have been among thousands in Buffalo for walks, but was awed by the hundreds that packed into a small park here.

“To see this many people out is mind-blowing, it’s great o know the support I have as a caregiver and Dave has as a patient.”
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