By participating in the 2022 Maine Beaches Area Walk to End Alzheimer's™, I'm committed to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer's research, care and support.  As you probably know, this is a very personal issue for me as my husband, Tom, was diagnosed in 2009 with a form of dementia called FrontoTemporal Degeneration; the specific variant being primary progressive aphasia.  We lost him in January of 2020 at age 74.  He was in an assisted living facility for over a year, unable to walk, speak, understand simple conversations or make his needs known.   There is no cure, no treatment, and little is known about the cause of this disease.     

Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's or a related dementia and that number is expected to grow to as many as 14 million by 2050. Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this disease.  I would be thrilled if we could make just a portion of the progress with these conditions that has been made in the last 10-15 years with understanding and treating various cancers. We would be so much closer to finding a way to treat or prevent these debilitating diseases.  

This year, we are gathering and walking together in York Beach on Saturday, September 17.  Please consider helping the cause by making a donation to help the Alzheimer's Association advance research into prevention, treatments and a cure for Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Or better yet, join our family team and help fundraise!  For the millions already affected by the disease, the Association offers care, education, support and resources in communities nationwide.
 
Thank you for joining our movement! The end of Alzheimer's disease starts here.