My name is Gabbie, I am 13 years old, and I am an active participant in the fight for my life. 

My story begins with my great-grandmother who had a disease that robbed her mind. She eventually got to the point where she did not even know her own sons. And then this disease traveled to my grandmother who fought it hard for nearly 2 decades. She was so brave!

And then it decided to leech onto my dad. My dad, the most amazing man I have ever met. He is smart, funny, and loves the Lord. And, his brain is dying. Every day, he loses another part of himself. It is like watching someone die slowly from paper cuts. You lose a little piece of your heart every day, and you don't even know how long it will happen. It is the long goodbye.  I don't want to be next.

I have never known my daddy without brain disease.

I intend to become one of the first Alzheimer's survivors.

When I was 7 years old, I asked my mom why the doctors would not fix daddy. She ended up telling me that there was no cure and that we can't have a cure because there isn't enough money to pay the Scientists!

Well, challenge accepted.

I decided that I could change the world.

And, she encouraged me to do it!

I hosted a lemonade stand that year and mailed in money to the Alzheimer's Association, not knowing then that I just discovered my life passion. I had raised $500!

Eventually, I just happened to be listening to KLRC and heard that they had this walk. And, the rest is history. 

I started Team Gabbie (look me up on Facebook!) at age 8 years old. That year, I hosted lemonade stands, a yard sale, made necklaces, and did a spare change drive. I raised $1,060!

And at age 9? I became the Number One Individual Fundraiser for our area. Woah! I made and sold Valentine's, hosted restaurant give-back events, sold Easter eggs, had a giant yard sale, and did multiple lemonade stands.  I ended up raising $3,347 for The Alzheimer's Association. 

At age 10, I kept going. I hosted a Valentine's fundraiser, a restaurant give-back event, a large yard sale, and the usual lemonade stands.  I raised $1,235, and I refused to stop!

At age 11, we started having fewer and fewer volunteers to help. But, I didn't stop. I hosted lemonade stands and a change drive and raised $1,035!

At age 12, I became very ill. And not long after that, covid happened. I really thought it might be the end of Team Gabbie. People were worried about money and sickness, and I was struggling with my own health too. It was a rough year for my whole family. My mom almost lost her business, and I was barely able to eat anything for months. It was very stressful, to say the least. But, I pressed on. Saving your families from Alzheimer's Disease was still important! Through lots of social media presence, I still managed to bring in a little over $3,000!

And that year, year 2020, brought my total earnings to over $10,000 for a cure for Alzheimer's Disease. I could not believe it! It was one of the best feelings ever to know that I could make that much of a difference in this world! We somehow managed, despite covid and being chronically ill, to raise $3,125.

And here we are at 2021, and I am 13 years old now. I am still not well, but getting stronger every day. My dad? He's still hanging in there, too! We keep going. Stopping isn't an option! We had a change drive, lots of online marketing, and a very fun online auction this year.  We managed to raise $1,698 this year. And, what is our lifetime total now????  $12,000!!!! 

I am sorely missing fund raising with the people! But, I know we will be back to normal again some day. And, I am looking forward to that day!

Until then...

I will continue to turn You Can't into I Dare You To Stop Me!!!

I would love your help! Please consider donating, sharing this page, or volunteering! Raising funds for Team Gabbie is a great activity for kids. Message me via my Facebook page if you need ideas on how to help or want to donate to my upcoming raffle.  @Team Gabbie

A shout out to Gabbie from our Senator (just click the words here)

UofA interview, click HERE

KNWA interview; Click
HERE

2016 Alzheimer's Ceremony, Click HERE

News 5 Interview, Click HERE

2017 Alzheimer's Ceremony, Click HERE

Taylor Klusman Press; Click HERE

Also featured in The Barry County Advertiser and heard on KURM radio