This is my 8th year walking for my Dad, currently living with early onset Alzheimer's. I walk because his memories matter and should last forever. I walk because grieving the loss of a person still living is one of the hardest things to do. Like my family, you too may have had someone close to you who has been devastated by this disease. It has claimed millions of lives and will claim millions more if we don't stop it. The world may look different right now, but one thing that hasn’t changed is my commitment to ending Alzheimer’s.

The journey of Alzheimer's and other dementias is a journey like no other. In April of last year we moved my Dad into an Alzheimer's care unit in Portland. This was a very hard decision full of many emotions, but it was the right thing to do. Caregiving doesn't end, it just changes. My Dad is in a good place getting the care he needs and although my family is no longer his full-time caregiver, we are still his strongest advocates. My Dad was a never-ending fountain of knowledge growing up. We used to joke that he would win the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire because he knew all the answers to every question. My Dad's passion in life is geology; during his 31 years with the Maine Geological Survey he made enormous contributions to understanding Maine's surficial geology and groundwater resources. He produced 80 aquifer maps, 31 surficial geology maps, and 45 geological reports. Some of my earliest childhood memories are from the field trips he led with the Maine Geological Survey, mapping parts of Maine that had never been done before and sharing his love of Maine's geology with future generations.

My 2022 fundraising goal is $4,000. Please help me bring more awareness and funds to the Alzheimer's Association by making a tax-deductible donation to my walk page. Your donation will help by advancing the Association's efforts in Alzheimer's care, support and research that will one day lead us to methods of prevention, treatment, and ultimately, a cure for the disease. Your support can make an even bigger impact this year because my company's foundation will match every dollar we raise - doubling our donation to the Alzheimer's Association. We must face this disease head on by generating funding for research, care and support, and continuing to raise awareness on how Alzheimer's impacts not only the person living with the disease, but the entire family unit. Alzheimer's and dementia are relentless, and we need to be as well.