In February 2019, my dad (Dick Knowlton) died of complications from Alzheimers, which he was diagnosed with over 11 years ago.  My dad was the most formidable foe ALZ has ever faced. I believe the awareness and financial resources raised through his battle is helping to discover a cure to end ALZ.  Alzheimers is a cruel disease, taking a little piece of the person every day.  As the disease progressed, dad wasn’t able to remember names, but he still had that glint in his eye as he reached out and shook your hand.

Mom and dad were married 64 years - a true love story.  Mom took care of dad by herself until the last year of his life when she had help in the evenings.  Mom never felt sorry for herself or complained. She just loved him, and to her that meant taking care of him, no matter what.  Caregivers endure a lot and they give up a lot to care for a loved one. The training and support provided by Alzheimer’s Association for caregivers, along with the 24/7 helpline, provides a vital service for so many.

 I'm leading the way to Alzheimer's first survivor by participating in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's®. Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this disease.

Together, we can end Alzheimer's disease. Please make a donation to advance the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association. 

 Thank you for joining the fight against Alzheimer's!

Why I Walk