Team Page ForTeam Iola

Why We Ride: 

• Team Iola is named after Iola Cates, Leslie’s Mom, who passed away in 2013 after living with Alzheimer's for several years.  We ride in honor of Iola and also her husband and primary caregiver Charles Cates (aka Chuck or Charlie) who passed away in 2020. 
• Iola and Charlie were married for over 50 years and theirs was a deep love. Together they raised four kids and one of the most important lessons they taught us was taking care of family and friends.  Before Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, their lives had already been touched by dementia.  Both Leslie’s Grandmother and Great Aunt suffered from dementia and together with Mom’s sister and brother, Iola and Charlie helped take care of them.  Mom’s diagnosis changed their lives; as the disease progressed they weren’t able to entertain and travel to visit family and friends.  Dad was Mom’s constant caregiver for several years.  As her care needs increased, he finally and reluctantly made the tough decision for her to be cared for at an assisted living facility where he visited with her every day.  My sister also spent many hours caring for Mom and Dad as the rest of the family pitched in as they could. Even as her disease progressed and she couldn’t remember who we were, Mom continued to smile for all of us.  But she always remembered Dad. I’ll always treasure seeing Mom’s incredible smile that she reserved for Dad. Even Alzheimer’s couldn’t take their love for each other away from them. And that was a gift. 
• So in return for that gift, we ride for Iola and Charlie and all Alzheimer's patients and caregivers

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and 16 million are acting as their caregivers. 

We are going the distance for all those affected while raising funds and awareness to advance research toward the first survivor of Alzheimer’s. 

Right now, there is no shortage of ideas in Alzheimer’s research — only dollars. But together, we can help change that. 100 percent of the funds raised from this event will go toward the Association’s efforts to discover methods of treatment and prevention for Alzheimer's and other dementias. 

Alzheimer’s touches all of us, and it will take all of us to end it. Please join our team or donate today.