Haley Johnson, a junior in marketing, is working with a small team of about 10 other University of Northern Iowa students to help raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and give students a fun activity to do on campus.
The third annual QUASH (Quest to Unravel Alzheimer’s Scavenger Hunt) is a mixture of physical and mental challenges that will take place in April across the UNI campus and on the Hill. The event will raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association, a national support and research organization, and aims to raise awareness of the condition.
The event is broken into two parts: mental and physical. The mental portion of the games focuses on discovering clues and solving puzzles, while the physical aspect involves various “QUASH spots” around campus. These spots include challenges such as obstacle courses and are still being kept under wraps by the team.
Johnson stated that she and her team are currently brainstorming clues for the event, and internal testing of the games will begin soon.
“People as young as 30 can have Alzheimer’s,” Johnson said of the degenerative and fatal brain disease. “I think students should get involved because you’re participating in a fun event and learning at the same time.”
The scavenger hunt costs $10 per person, and each group of two to four people is encouraged to raise at least $100 to donate. According to Johnson, around 70 people in 30 groups have already signed up. Spots are still available and same day registration is open.
For more information, visit www.quashatuni.com.
