I know firsthand the tragic consequences of Alzheimer's. That it's not just about losing memories---though that certainly ranks as one of the toughest symptoms as our personal connections make up a huge part of our identities. Alzheimer's causes a slow brain death which affects many bodily functions and brings about enough complications to end life. My mother's older sister Gloria also has Alzheimer's and has moved into memory care and I also have 2 uncles I've lost to Lewy Bodies Dementia. I walk to honor them as well and in hopes for a better future for my family which seems to have a history of dementia-related illness. 

Currently over 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's and over 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for those loved ones who have the disease. The lifetime risk for Alzheimers at age 45 is 1 in 5 for women and 1 in 10 for men. At present, there is no cure and although research has made advances in treatment they are not widely available yet. These treatments can buy families some time but do not bring a full cure. I want to be a part of making that change that for myself and others, and I'm counting on you to help me. Together, we can end Alzheimer's disease. Please make a donation to advance the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association. 

Thank you for joining the fight against Alzheimer's!