Over 70 Rice students took part in the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s held by the Champlain Valley Alzheimer’s Association on Sunday, September 28.
826 participants in 120 teams gathered on a beautiful day at Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, VT to participate.
Senior Reese Billings, who organized the participation of Rice’s athletic teams and who lost her own grandfather to Alzheimer’s, had the highest fundraising from Rice, raising $1,083. Over twenty students raised more than $100.
“In addition to serving the cause,” said Billings. “I thought it would be a great way to bring the fall sports teams together.”
For football coach Chad Cioffi, the event is personal.
“I was a caregiver for an individual who passed away last October from Alzheimer’s,” said Cioffi. “My wife also lost her father to Alzheimer’s in 2011. It’s a disease that definitely hits close to our hearts.”
Football was not the only team representing Rice. Field hockey and soccer were also well represented. Jerseys and class T-shirts from Rice were visible everywhere. Many alumni also participated.
“I just wanted to reach out and say thank you to everyone that was able to make it today to the Alzheimer’s Walk,” Cioffi said in a message to his players and their families. “I am incredibly grateful to be a part of the Rice Football (and Athletic) Family. It was amazing to see such a strong turnout today for Rice!”
Sophomore Sam DeSanctis, whose great-grandmother has Alzheimer’s, joined more than 20 other members of the football team to walk on Sunday. He was touched by the speakers at the event, including those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s who expressed their gratitude, and the image of the pinwheels representing flowers carried by walkers all moving together.
“Everyone was connected,” said DeSanctis. “We were all fighting for one thing.”
As of Sunday, the organization had reached 93% of its fundraising goal, raising $213,195 of its $230,000 goal.
Rice exceeded its $5,000 goal by 129%, bringing in $7,118 and earning it the distinction of being the third highest fundraising team.
“Seeing how many athletes and families from Rice that showed up or donated was amazing,” said Cioffi. “I think these sorts of things will never show on a scoreboard, but these are amazing off-the-field wins for any team at Rice. It shows how amazing our student-athletes are, how incredible the families at Rice are. [I have] a lot of pride to be a Knight today.”
Donations to the cause, including to a specific Team or Walker, can be made at the Alzheimer’s Association website.
