My mother is a Cancer Survivor who was diagnosed in 2006. With the help of a great surgeon and chemotherapy follow up she has been cancer free ever since. In 2017 we both participated in a walk to fight cancer. (She is the figure on the far right.) Wearing her Survivor Medal she, along with other Survivors, helped open the event by walking the first lap around the track. They were accompanied by cheers and shouts of friends and family members.

In 2009 mom was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment. In 2014 she began taking medication to slow the advance of her cognitive impairment, but because her cognition continued to decline her diagnosis changed to Alzheimer's disease. There are no Alzheimer's Survivors. But there is hope. Hope for the First Alzheimer's Survivor. It may not happen in mom's lifetime, but I believe it will happen within my lifetime. There Will One Day Be A Survivor of Alzheimer's.

As for Today there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another type of dementia and it kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Sobering facts.

The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the largest fundraiser for Alzheimer's in the world. And the Alzheimer's Association is the world's largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research and is committed to accelerating the global effort to eliminate Alzheimer's. They fund Family Caregiver Support Groups (like the one I attend), a Website (alz.org), Educational Webinars (Washingtonians - go to https://www.alz.org/alzwa to find the latest classes), and a 24/7 Helpline 800.272.3900. (I have utilized their Help Line for myself and I highly recommend it.)

I am participating in Walk to End Alzheimer's in honor of my mom. By walking I hope to raise funds $2,500 for the Alz Assoc, to help others face the challenges that Alzheimer's brings and to pass on the wisdom I was told - "Enjoy the rainbow moments". Rainbow moments are the times that our loved one says or does something that surprises us and makes us smile. We don't expect it because we are used to seeing how Alzheimer's has changed our loved one from the person they were and we too have changed our expectations of them. Mom still surprises me and it makes me smile inside and out. I'm happy that I have gotten to know her so well over the last 6 years. She has changed my life for the better and I am greatly indebted to her.

Please consider making a donation towards Alzheimer's First Survivor. Any size donation is welcome and can be made either online or by mail.

Thank you for your generosity, Claire