Walking With Gratitude Thank You from Team Sonja💜

October 1, 2025
Stephanie Fleming
Behnke's Best, Inspiration
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A Moment That Took My Breath Away

This past Saturday, I had one of those moments that stops you in your tracks. When I arrived at Centennial Park in Ellicott City for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, I was overwhelmed to see a large poster of my beautiful mom, Sonja Behnke Festerling, displayed in the Promise Garden Flowers alongside 10 other teams’ posters.

Surrounded by all those blooms, it was such a moving reminder of why we walk and who we walk for.

The Strength of Team Sonja

Because of your kindness, encouragement, and generosity, Team Sonja raised $3,595, and together, Howard County raised over $250,000 to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. 💜

The walk around the lake was longer than I expected, but step by step, I was so encouraged to see so many others walking alongside me, each of us carrying our own stories, our own loved ones, our own hope.

Walking for Friends, Family, and Hope

Alzheimer’s hasn’t only touched my family. Sadly, I’ve seen too many people I care about walk this journey, including my dear friend Terri Dunsmore, who left us far too young. It’s for her, for my mom, and for every family carrying this weight that I will continue to walk.

And your support truly matters. A portion of the funds raised goes directly toward vital programs for caregivers, like the free 24/7 Helpline, local support groups, care consultations, and educational programs, while the rest helps with research, advocacy, and the mission to end Alzheimer’s.

When I first signed up, I was nervous and unsure what to expect. But the more I learned about the impact this organization makes, the more determined I became to be part of it.

Where Your Support Makes a Difference

And this isn’t the end. Team Sonja will be back next year, and if you’ve ever thought about walking for your loved one, I’d love for you to join us. If you’d like to talk with someone who has been a caregiver, please know I’m always here.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for walking beside me, in spirit, in support, or right there at the park.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s For Team Sonja with Stephanie Fleming and her two children — Team Sonja Walk to End Alzheimer’s with Stephanie, Jaimie and Steven

the Team Sonja poster among the Garden of Flowers at Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Stephanie Fleming

Stephanie Fleming was raised at Behnke’s Nurseries in Beltsville. Her Mom, Sonja, was one of Albert & Rose Behnke’s four children. She was weeding from the moment she could walk and hiding as soon as she was old enough to run, so many weeds, so little time. Although she quickly learned how to pull out a perennial and get taken off of weed pulling duty.