My Personal Fundraising Page
If you would have told five-year-old Catherine that she would be running a marathon at twenty-two, she would not have believed you; but, even less so, if you told five-year-old Catherine that her dad would be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when she was thirteen, she would not have believed you either.
This may, in part, be due to the fact that I had no idea what Alzheimer’s was at five years old, but at twenty-one I’m still not sure I understand the disease either. I thought I understood at thirteen: I knew my dad was more forgetful than my mom, but I did not need a diagnosis to tell me that. I thought I understood at fifteen, when my dad stopped driving; I thought I understood at seventeen, when my dad needed my mom to cut food for him at dinner; I thought I understood at eighteen, when I left for college, but I returned home to realize how much Alzheimer’s progresses when you do not see the incremental changes each day brings. At nineteen, I thought I finally understood, but I did not understand; I did not understand that the weekend my older brother, FJ, ran the Boston Marathon would be the last time I saw my dad in our home.
Now, at twenty-one, I'm confused; I’m confused why such a good dad fell victim to such a terrible disease.
I used to wonder why my dad told me every morning and every night how proud he was of me- now I know it is because there would be a day he would not be able to tell me, but he never wanted me to doubt how prideful he was of his daughter.
I’m proud of my dad, and his eight yearlong battle with Alzheimer’s disease; in his battle, he taught me what true strength looks like.
I look forward to the challenge of running the Chicago Marathon in honor of my dad, and in the hopes that one day, no one else will have to share my confusion.
Please support my efforts by making a donation. All funds raised benefit the Alzheimer's Association and its work to enhance care and support programs and advance research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure for Alzheimer's disease. Thank you for joining the fight against Alzheimer’s disease!
Catherine Murphy
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