NORWICH – When McLaughlin’s Department Store owner Scott McLaughlin lost his father Spencer to Alzheimer’s Disease in May of 2009, both he and his wife Anna knew getting involved in the battle versus the debilitating disease was a must.

In the end, the McLaughlin family decided to hold its own fundraising effort in support of the Alzheimer’s Association and its Memory Walk, the nation’s largest event aimed at raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research, according to www.alz.org.

Ever since his father was first diagnosed with the disease, McLaughlin said he and his family have been “determined to make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s” and the Memory Walk serves as both a tribute to Spencer and a way to give back to the association.

Throughout this spring and summer, the downtown department store has offered its customers an opportunity to donate with the sale of ice cream bars and “A Reason to Hope” wristbands, with all proceeds going toward the cause. In addition, both the Norwich and Oneonta stores recently held a bake sale and the Norwich location held an employee bottle drive.