Whenever I went through the rush process I knew wherever I ended up I wanted to make a difference. Philanthropy was a big part of my decision. I knew about some of the things sororities did in the community but there was one philanthropy that really stuck out to me, Sigma Kappa and the Alzheimer’s Association. My Grandpa was one of my favorite people in the world. We’d like to go fishing together, he’d let me mess with what little hair he had so I could put it in a mohawk (mom loved to take pictures), and he’d always ask about my freckles. “Have you been kissing them boys?” he’d ask because apparently you get a freckle from every kiss. But all of that changed my Junior year of High School. When 2020 hit it was a hard time for many due to covid but it wasn’t just covid that impacted me and my family that year. It was disease that was slowly taking my Grandpa away from me. With Covid rates on the rise it became harder for me to see my Grandpa, we couldn’t risk making him sicker than he already was. My family and I would try to make visits possible by staying more than 6 feet away with masks but it still wasn’t the same. The man who once loved to stay up late watching WWE with me wasn’t the same person anymore. He slowly started to forget the little things until he couldn’t remember the big. In June 2020 he passed away peacefully in his sleep and finally ended his suffering. After his passing it was a very hard time for my family. He was the first Grandparent I lost and someone who was always there for me. The grieving process was different for everyone in my family. We were all glad he was in a better place but it didn’t change the fact that he was gone. Fast forward to August 2021 I made the decision to rush Sigma Kappa and it is a decision I have been so thankful for every day. To see the impact this disease has had on many is heartbreaking but as a whole we have chosen to use that heartbreak for the better. Each year Sigma Kappa as a whole raises money from all over the country to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association. One of our biggest events every year is participating in A Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Each girl in our chapter creates a walk page and has a goal to reach. As a chapter we raise thousands of dollars a year through this walk to put towards the Alzheimer’s Association. This walk has a special meaning for many girls in my chapter wether it’s a personal connection or supporting a friend who has had a first hand account of the disease. We walk for those who fought Alzheimer’s and those who are currently fighting it. I walk for my Grandpa Oelke. I walk for my Grandma who was there for him every step of the way. I walk for everyone else that this disease has or will take away. I never got to say a proper goodbye to my Grandpa but through this walk I am able to every year.
My Progress
Thank you for helping advance Alzheimer's support, care and research.
0
I have raised
100
My Goal
My Achievements
Top Team
Storyteller