Yes, once again I will head out this spring to ride 100 or so miles in support of this great cause – my eleventh year in a row.
As many of you know, my mother lost her battle with Alzheimer's in the fall of 2021 - as did her sister and mother before her. And she is still sorely missed. Truth is, we lost her several years before then. As someone said to me recently, dementia is the one disease where you "get" to mourn a loved one well before they die.
And as the scientist will tell you, dementia is not a "normal" result of aging. Age increases your risk, but it is not a cause. There is always an underlying disease, whether it be Alzheimer's, Lewy bodies, vascular dementia, or some other cause.
But supporting the Alzheimer's Association is a great way to honor my mother's legacy and help find a cure to dementia, something she did in multiple ways.
In that spirit, can I count on you to support my ride? Any amount will do - $4, $9, $18, $93, $424 - round numbers are fine too! (And I fully understand how many of you have contributed many years in a row. For that I am truly thankful.)
Your donation is important for reasons beyond the loss of my mother. One in every ten people over 65 has Alzheimer’s and approximately 480,000 people develop it each and every year. And the cost of that? The cost of care for those with Alzheimer’s will exceed a quarter TRILLION dollars each year. Worse, that is projected to quadruple by 2050.
But on the good side, your donation WILL make a difference. Progress is slow, but progress has been made. And the Alzheimer's Association is not only a major contributor to so much of the great research going on, but also provides much needed support to anyone who needs it at no cost. It's just a telephone call away.
Thank you in advance for your donation and support. I promise to send out a recap as I have in the past as well. I have every confidence it will once again be a fun and rewarding experience. Your donation will make it all the more so - I thank you for the support.
Take Care!
Doug
Cheer Me On!