Dunk a Doctor to End Alzheimer’s Disease

Submitted by WHIZ Intern Maddie Luebkert

Zanesville, OH- Every 65 seconds, someone in the U.S. receives a troubling diagnosis. 

Alzheimer’s disease, which has no cure, develops in about 1 in 10 Americans over 65. But volunteers and doctors are supporting the fight for a cure right here in Zanesville. The Physicians Group of Southeastern Ohio is partnering with Senior Health Connect, Agilon Health and The Barn to hold Dunk a Doc. Participants at the Dunk a Doc fundraiser can step up to the target with a baseball in hand, in hopes of dropping a community physician into the tank.

“Working in healthcare and care management, we see on a regular basis the devastation that Alzheimer’s disease has on our patients, and more so their families,” Walk to End Alzheimer’s Co-Captain John Dobson said. 

“It’s events like this, it’s fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association that goes into that research and development to help us find a cure and fight back,” Walk to End Alzheimer’s Co-Captain Kayla King said.

The fundraiser will include live music from Michael Morosko and multiple ways to donate through fun contests. At the pie in the face station, participants can donate a minimum amount of $3 to launch a pie. The fundraiser will also offer a Liquor Basket Raffle worth $500 and football square sales. Tickets for the dunk tank will start at $5 for three throws. Participants can also purchase closer throws from $20 to $50. Dunk tank volunteers include Dr. Shelly Dunmyer, nominated by her coworkers. 

“There will be a dunk tank, so that means that the community gets to come out and actually dunk real live doctors from your community,” Dunmyer said. “So, we think it’s going to be fun, I’m pretty sure it’s legal, and it’s probably going to be hilarious.”

“It’s a fundraiser that will go to research and therapies that hopefully one day we will have a world without Alzheimer’s,” Executive Director of Agilon Health Kyle Paugh said. 

Dunk a Doc will take place at The Barn on Saturday, August 2 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.