Wesleigh Jeanne's Walking Team walks in honor of Wesleigh's nana, Jeanne. She passed away from Alzheimer's. Here's Wesleigh's story:

I walk for my nana Jeanne. She was beautiful, glamorous and loved fancy jewelry and clothes. My papa loved her immensely. That's why we didn't realize something was wrong until he passed away. They had both been living with me, my parents & my sister since I was in 6th grade - so we were all close. My papa did everything for my nana - that was their generation. So we didn't notice that nana didn't know when to get up in the morning and come meet us in the kitchen for breakfast. We didn't know that she couldn't perform simple tasks without someone's help. This realization hit us hard and she only slipped further and further away. I know now that the bizarre things my nana did and said were because of her brain - not her heart. But I didn't know that then. I feel a lot of regret for not knowing how to talk to her and not knowing how to support her. I know so much more now because of the Alzheimer's Association. That's why I am so passionately involved for the second year as our Portland Walk Chair. I'm doing this for my nana, my papa, my mom, dad, sister -- and for me. I have hope that we WILL have a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementias. And we're the ones who are going to make it happen.

I hope you're able to join Wesleigh Jeanne's Walking Team either in person on October 15th at the Oregon zoo - or virtually. This disease still has no cure or a means to slow it down, so anything we can do really does help.

(If you're curious about the team name... My middle name is Jeanne - named after my nana)