The signs were there. I was familiar with the disease. I did not want to believe it was true. In September 2018, it became real. My dearest Daddy was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. And then, four years later, in March 2022, my sweet Daddy passed away. This ugly disease has taken someone else I love.

There were so many things that were hard about this journey. We were separated by 8,500 miles because Bangkok, Thailand was the place he called home. After almost 40 years of making a life and raising me in America, my parents decided to pack it up and head back to their homeland - and who could blame them? It's Thailand and Thailand is beautiful and filled with family and friends! But, understanding Alzheimer's is not universal. Many people believe that it's just about getting older and forgetting things. Very few people understand the physical changes happening to the diagnosed. Very few people understand what it truly means to be a care giver. I am on this journey to learn and help spread the word, not just to my friends or to other Americans, but to other cultures as well. My dream is that when the cure is found in America, we will be able to spread that knowledge and love to the rest of the world.

Alzheimer's disease is one of the fastest growing epidemics in the United States, yet it rarely gets the attention that cancer or heart disease receives. Each one of us has either been affected or knows someone that has or is currently being affected by this disease. The first survivor is out there somewhere, and we want to be a part of finding them.

I walk for my family, for other families and for the future generations. I look forward to the day when we can hold up the white flower representing the first Alzheimer's survivor. Walk with us - as we work towards finding a cure for Alzheimer's.

The Alzheimer's Association reports that the estimated progression rate of Alzheimer's in the U.S. from 2000-2050 will increase by 193% and there currently is no cure. Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. Every 67 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's disease. You guys - this is in the United States of America ALONE!! Can you imagine what kind of numbers this would be if the rest of the world is taken into account?

Please consider donating to our team for the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's®, the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research. Together, we can advance research to treat and prevent Alzheimer's, and provide programs and support to improve the lives of millions of affected Americans.