Come join our Actors & Artists Unite Santa Monica Team as we walk on Sunday, November 10th at the beautiful Crescent Bay Park- our 14th year!
I walk in honor and in memory of my dad- CDR Frederick T Daly. He was my rock- my harbor- the one person I could always count on in this world.
He was my dad.
There was a sentence I lived to hear- “Why, that’s just wonderful!” I heard it every time I booked a job. I heard it so many times throughout every Alzheimer’s Walk season. I founded AA Unite in honor of my mom, but I founded it for my dad. To give him hope after he lost the love of his life- and to make the promise- “A cure in our lifetime- I promise you, Dad- we’ll find it.” I worked so hard to make my family proud, but he was the one I wanted to shine for.
He took care of my mom throughout the years of her Alzheimer’s. “She is my love- I cannot leave her.” He cared for her every day until she died in May of 2012. In time, his memory began to falter. Having lived through it before, I knew he was in the beginning stages of Dementia. He would ask the same questions over and over. He was still my dad- kind, patient, caring, and a gentle pillar of wisdom and heart. In his last year, I saw my dad for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. He was having trouble walking, so, I managed canes, walkers, and the wheelchair to make sure he was safe.
In his last six weeks, he was in the hospital. I combed his hair, put lotion on his face, and held his hand- for 12-18 hours at a time. That’s what a daughter does- we take care of our fathers- and it is an honor. Someone said- “You will have a hole in your heart”- but that was filled a hundred times over with the promises I made to him- “I promised you- a cure in our lifetime. and now, I will walk that much further; I will work that much harder for my half of the promise- a cure in mine. I’m not losing you, Dad- you’ll always be with me. I promise- I will do you proud.”
He died July 12th, 2019. I miss him every day- and yet, I know he is always with me as I walk to keep my promise to find a cure for a soldier who took his final walk and a father who is finally at peace.
Come join us on Sunday, November 10th at Crescent Bay Park, 2000 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Registration begins at 9 AM and the Opening and Promise Flower Ceremonies begin at 10 AM and the Walk will begin right after at 10:30 AM. All are welcome!
And as we Irish say- Slainte!
Nancy Daly
Founder and National Team Captain and Coordinator
Actors and Artists Unite to End Alzheimer's
www.alz.org/AAUnite - our national team page!
https://act.alz.org/Forms/living-in-twilight--a-daughters-alzheimers-story-2013.docx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE9eVfcdBQw&t=6s
Alzheimer’s isn’t stopping and neither are we. By participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, I’m raising funds and awareness to advance the fight against this disease — funds that allow the Alzheimer’s Association® to provide 24/7 care and support while accelerating critical research.Families facing Alzheimer’s and all other dementia need us now more than ever — and with your help, we can be there for them. Please make a donation or register as a participant and start your own fundraising. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s disease.
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