I am walking in honor of my Grandma Pat Mast. She was the kindest person with the biggest capacity of love I have ever seen. She loved her kids and her grandkids and also all their friends. I was once told by a couple kids I rode the school bus with that they had come over to her house to see if I wanted to skate with them. I wasn't there but she still fed them Nutter Butters and let them skate in the driveway anyway. 

She was always bragging about her kids and grandkids to all her friends, and she made friends everywhere. I once went with her to the vitamin store where the cashier was able to guess my name and congratulated me on an award I had recently received. She never missed a dance performance or a band concert, even though as a bunch of beginner 6th graders we were really, really bad. She was even happy to have the opportunity to take me to the dentist just so she could spend the car ride with me. 

We were lucky that her caring spirit stayed with her throughout her illness. Even though she forgot all our names she still remembered the feeling of love. Not all who care for someone with Alzheimer's are so lucky. I have seen many more families facing this slow loss, and others going through it mostly alone.

Alzheimer’s isn’t stopping and neither are we. By participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, I’m raising funds and awareness to advance the fight against this disease — funds that allow the Alzheimer’s Association® to provide 24/7 care and support while accelerating critical research.

Families facing Alzheimer’s and all other forms of dementia need us now more than ever — and with your help, we can be there for them. Please make a donation or register as a participant and start your own fundraising. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s disease. 

Thank you!

P.S. Grandma loved watching us dance. My sister Tessa choregraphed this dance inspired by her struggle with Alzheimer's. Remember Me