This July, I'll be participating in Ride to End ALZ South Carolina, a unique 255-mile, cross-state journey for cycling enthusiasts who are passionate about ending Alzheimer's disease. Our mission is to raise the funds needed for the research, care, and support efforts of the Alzheimer's Association. The group I am traveling with will be adding to the challenge by completing an extra two days (approx. 100miles) of riding before the event starts to further help raise awareness.
My introduction to Alzheimer's disease was as a young child. I would visit my great grandpa at Cedar Haven with the rest of my family. He would always seem rather confused and never really knew who I was. At the time, I believed that he didn't particularly want to see me, but looking back, he just didn't have the capability to know me.
After he passed, I hoped to never visit that building again. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option, as my grandpa (Poppop) ended up spending the last years of his life there. He started having symptoms of the disease while I was in college. I didn't realize the extent to which Alzheimer's can progress, until I started noticing just how much he was disappearing each time I'd see him. Looking back, I regret not making a greater effort to frequently visit. By the time I graduated, the man I had known my whole life no longer existed in the same sense. He still maintained his mannerisms but wasn't the same Poppop I grew up beside. This whole process was infuriating as there was nothing anyone could do to change the outcome. I held onto the memories of the good times and vowed to remember him as the awesome grandpa he was.
During his progression, I had the opportunity to meet Alyssa's grandparents. Her Grandma Sue had started having similar memory challenges as Poppop. It pains me to watch as the process repeats itself, remaining helpless to stop it. Watching Alyssa and family reminisce about what Grandma Sue would've loved or how great her style was furthers my desire to have known her before Alzheimer's.
Before someone else I know develops this disease, I've decided to help do something about it by joining the Ride to End ALZ. I was introduced to this event by my uncle Jeff and his guidance helped me complete the ride last year. This is the second year I am participating and I couldn't be more excited. Please consider supporting me in this five day journey across Virginia (extra challenge) and South Carolina, anything helps! Although I am not typically very active on social media, I plan to provide updates at the end of each day to keep everyone who supports me in the loop.
Thank you for your support,
Cobie
Cheer Me On!