From an early age, Toby Atkinson saw many of her older family members develop Alzheimer’s disease and the generation behind them fall into the role of caregivers. As a child, she assumed Alzheimer’s would one day be part of her own legacy. She still has vivid memories of her grandmother and two aunts who passed away from the disease, but now as an adult with her own family, she sees her legacy far differently.
Crowned Mrs. United States in the fall of 2023, Toby is using her platform to further the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association through fundraising, advocacy and education. When entering the state Mrs. United States competition for North Carolina, determining her personal platform was a no brainer when she thought about what has affected her and her family the most, and where she would like to see significant impact on improving the future – Alzheimer’s disease.
“Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t care about socioeconomic status or ethnicity,” said Toby. “It impacts a lot of people, and we are all susceptible to the disease. I want to be part of the narrative to drive change in how people live with Alzheimer’s and other dementia. The Mrs. United States title offers me a national platform to make an impact and I am proud to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association to join them in this fight.”
Toby, the national director of diversity equity and inclusion and management programs at Cintas, is the chair of the executive leadership team for this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Iredell Co. & Lake Norman and has been a strong fundraiser for the event since 2023. To support her Walk fundraising efforts, she plans to host a Purple Gala fundraiser this year with the national Mrs. United States pageant in October when she concludes her reign.
In addition to her fundraising impact, she is also using her voice to advocate for improved quality of care, risk reduction and continued research for life changing treatments. Toby attended the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C. where select advocates from across the U.S. came together to make the case to federal policymakers to advance policies to improve the lives of all individuals affected by Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
This year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Iredell Co. & Lake Norman, on September 21 at Liberty Park in downtown Mooresville, will be extra special for Toby and her family. Her 12-year-old daughter Grace, who is the reigning Junior Miss North Carolina, will be raising the white flower during the Promise Garden ceremony – an inspiring part of each Walk to End Alzheimer’s event across the nation.
“The white flower represents a future without Alzheimer’s,” said Toby. “This is very much my dream and why I work hard to raise funds and advocate for this disease. It is an honor for her to be asked to hold this special flower and enlightens her passion to advocate and support the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association alongside of me.”
Watch Toby’s interview on Queen City News here.
LIKE TOBY, WE ALL HAVE A REASON TO FIGHT FOR A WORLD WITHOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. Join your local Walk to End Alzheimer’s today as an individual, team, or sponsor.
The Alzheimer’s Association hosts 17 walks across North Carolina. The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association® mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.
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