Amy Hamby Walks Fayetteville Course to Honor Late Father

Amy Hamby will walk in Fayetteville this Saturday to remember her father.

More than seven million Americans live with Alzheimer's, a figure that equals roughly one in nine people age 65 and older. A new diagnosis happens every 65 seconds in the country. The annual Walk to End Alzheimer's is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at Segra Stadium, with hundreds of people expected to attend.

Hamby is a nurse from Erwin who lost her father, whom her family called Poppy, in 2008. She will wear a Team Poppy shirt to the event. She did not know about the genetic link to the disease when her father died. She noted that she had no clue he carried the gene or that she would inherit it, despite her nursing background.

Hamby received an early-stage Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2024 at age 59. She initially attributed her symptoms to post-COVID brain fog. She realized something was wrong a few years later. Testing revealed she has two copies of the APOE-4 gene. One copy raises the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's by two to three times. Two copies can increase the risk by 10 to 15 times.

She is currently waiting for treatment. She said approved therapies carry considerable risk for her because of her genetic profile, but she believes they are worth the effort. She continues to advocate for the disease in Raleigh, where she has worked to pass legislation supporting research and care. She wants to live life to the fullest with her children for the years ahead.

Daily life includes moments where she asks her children to repeat questions. She still enjoys cooking and looks through a cookbook of family recipes. She likes sharing meals with her family. Registration for the walk remains open for anyone who wants to participate or show support.

The walk takes place on Saturday at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville. The event aims to bring together families touched by the disease.