My grandfather was a hard working man. On saturdays, like clockwork, you could find him in his workshop he built by hand or fishing on the Chattahoochee river. For most of my childhood he was the life of the party. Always telling jokes, always making others laugh, and always loving on his grandchildren. Dementia took away the man I knew and our family didn't even realize it was happening. He grew angry, irritable, and confused. Things that used to make sense to him didn't anymore. I had never seen my grandfather without a way to fix something with his tools and his hands but there came a day when those things that were so familiar to him weren't anymore. He couldn't fix things and he couldn't go out on his boat. One of the saddest things in the world was watching his boat sit dry for so long.

Eventually we had to get in home care because my grandmother wasn't able to care for him alone anymore. We all thought it was just part of the aging process.

Alzheimer's is one of the only diseases that doesn't currently have a treatment or a cure. That needs to change!

My hope is that by raising funds and awareness through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, others will not have to walk this road alone. 77% of every dollar raised goes to the advancement of research and care putting us one step closer to the first survivor and the vision of a world without Alzheimer’s disease. 

Currently, more than 103,000 Alabamians have Alzheimer's and that number is continuing to grow. Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this disease.

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!