Alzheimer’s isn’t stopping and neither are we! My daughters, Elizabeth Paine and Alex Soffer, and I attended the Alzheimer’s Association Forum in Washington, D. C., this spring where we advocated to our respective legislators. We have entered the AGE OF TREATMENT, so it is imperative that we continue to secure funding and encourage the approval of FDA drugs by Medicare. The Tennessee General Assembly and the Area Agencies on Aging continue to support The Colonel Thomas Bowden Memorial Act and provide services to those living with the disease and their caregivers.

This is the FIVE-YEAR anniversary of Tom's defeat by the disease. Please join us as we honor Tom, the 120,000 Tennesseans and the 6.7 million Americans living with Alzheimer's along with their 370,000 unpaid caregivers.   

September 23, 2023

THE BOWDENSTRONG TEAM (ONLY) WILL BE WALKING AT THE TULLAHOMA HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AT 8:30 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2023.       

In Lynchburg: Jack Daniel's Welcome Center / 133 Lynchburg Hwy Lynchburg, TN 37352, Registration 8:30, Walk at 9:15

 Register here: Please see the "Join Our Team" button above to become members of #BowdenStrong and to make a donation.

THE COLONEL THOMAS G. BOWDEN MEMORIAL ACT                              

In May of 2022 after three years of  advocating amid Covid delays, The Tennessee General Assembly passed the Col. Thomas Bowden Memorial Act which will provide support services to those with Alzheimer's and other dementia who live alone or are being cared for in home by a family member or other unpaid caregiver.                                                                                        

Barb said,  "Our family is honored to have this bill named in memory of Tom, but more importantly, we are thrilled that this respite care bill will bring essential relief to many of our fellow Tennesseans living with this insidious disease. It has been our family's honor to work in concert with the Alzheimer's Association and other advocates who helped make this bill a reality."  Currently more than 120,000 people in Tennessee are living with Alzheimer's or other related dementia with an estimated 360,000 family members serving as caregivers providing more than 500 million hours of unpaid care annually  

Below are words from Elizabeth Paine for our 2018 Nashville Walk team page.   It's a powerful message and remains very pertinent this year!  Our team hopes you are moved to join us as the #BowdenStrong team works hard to do our share to help find a cure!

• Have you ever had the urge to comb your hair with your razor?
• What about putting your pants on your arm first?
• How about not being sure if you use a knife or fork to eat with, so you take a chance and eat with your knife?
• What about not knowing the names of your children or your spouse?

By 2050, 13-16 million Americans aged 65 or older will have Alzheimer's disease.  That is 27 years from now-- I want to see my grandchildren grow up.

We lost our dad at 68 years old.

PLEASE JOIN US TO FIGHT THIS HIDEOUS BEAST.

 Alzheimer's disease is relentless.  So are we!  Join our team for the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's, the world's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research.

Love,                                                                                                                              Barbara (Barby) Brandt Bowden