Cooper Drug Store reopens haunted house after six years to benefit nonprofit
Nikole Babb, nbabb@cherryroad.com
Tomorrow night for one night only, the Cooper Drug Store haunted house is back to benefit a meaningful nonprofit. Join volunteers of the Central and Western Kansas Chapter in Wichita, a branch of the Alzheimer’s Association, for a haunt to end Alzheimer’s.
After six years of sitting unused, the haunted house run by volunteers and employees of Cooper Drug Store is back in operation. The location of the haunt sits in an old apartment above the drug store, accessible by an outside door on State Street in downtown Augusta. While pondering whether to open the house again, Brett Kappelmann, Owner and Pharmacist at Cooper Drug Store, alongside employee Linda Gillett, decided they wanted the house to return with the intention of serving nonprofits.
“Linda and I had talked years thinking this would be a great fundraiser,” said Kappelmann. “I think it’s a great addition to Witches Night Out. We’re really excited to be able to provide that again and support such a worth organization such as the Alzheimer’s Association.”
Their first choice of nonprofit to offer the space to were Ruth Burress and Donnita Bennington, Augusta residents and long-time volunteers of the Alzheimer’s Association. Finding a new way to fundraise for research and support of those experiencing Alzheimer’s is something they say is important now more than ever.
“The cause is near and dear to my heart because I worked with Charles, he was such an amazing guy and Ruth is an amazing woman who does so much for the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Gillett. “When that opportunity came up she was the first person I thought of.”
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.
“It’s a very important cause for us because it’s now actually in my children’s generation,” said Burress. “But just from all the funding that’s been raised, this is actually the first generation that there’s hope.
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, treatment for those diagnosed with the disease has been in development for over twenty years with new treatments becoming available in the last five years. On average, a person with Alzheimer’s lives four to eight years after diagnosis but can live as long as 20 years, depending on other factors. Treatment doesn’t stop Alzheimer’s, but it can slow down the progress of the disease and extend the independence and quality of life for those affected.
Both Burress and Bennington have felt the effects of Alzheimer’s directly; Burress’s husband, Charles, was diagnosed with the disease in 2007 when he was just 50 years old. He passed away in July 2013, leaving a mission in Ruth’s heart to help end the fight of Alzheimer’s. Between Charles and Ruth, the couple has lost seven family members in 40 years to Alzheimer’s disease.
Bennington has been a long-time friend of Ruth and Charles since high school. She remains steady as Ruth’s support system and joined the fight with her. Bennington’s aunt and sister-in-law were diagnosed with dementia.
“You don’t find anybody that hasn’t been touched in some shape or form by Alzheimer’s or dementia,” said Bennington.
The haunted house will take place on Thursday night, October 16 from 6-9pm during Augusta’s Witches Night Out event. The cost to enter the haunted house is donation based. Participants must be 18 years of age and older to enter. All donations will be given back to the Central and Western Kansas Chapter branch of the Alzheimer’s Association located in Wichita. The funds will be used for local support, resources and research of Alzheimer’s disease.
The house is not ADA friendly as the building doesn’t have an elevator installed and a flight of stairs must be used to enter the building.
Check-in for the house will be on the sidewalk outside of Cooper Drug Store located at 509 State St in Augusta. Witches Night Out is a free event created for those 18 years of age and older to dress as witches and ‘fly’ business to business to receive exclusive discounts and treats in the Red Brick District.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, help is available. The Alzheimer’s Association is a resource for reliable information, education, referral and support to millions of people affected by the disease.
Call the 24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900.
Locate your local Alzheimer’s Association and more at alz.org.
Go to ALZNavigator to create customized action plans and connect with local support services.
To get involved in Wichita’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s event or to donate to Ruth and Donnita’s team, visit their team page What About Bob? at https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk/?pg=team&fr_id=18608&team_id=940686.
