Support 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.

We are walking to honor our mother Jackie O'Brien who has battled Vascular Dementia since October 2015. Our father died in 1976 at the age of 40. Mom had the daunting task of raising four children while owning and operating a bar and restaurant seven days a week! Mom worked long hours, never complained, and is a true inspiration to me and my siblings. She knows what it takes to be an amazing parent, a role model, and a fighter!

In addition to her Vascular Dementia diagnosis, she had a lumpectomy in her 60s and part of her right lower lobe removed in her 80's (she never smoked, but it is suspected that she inhaled a great deal of second hand smoke with operating the bar and restaurant (The Weathercock in Chazy, NY) from 1971 until 2004 at the age of 71!

She was considered the 'town' mom as one of my Facebook friends pointed out not long ago. When I attend my high school reunions people always ask about her. She is a very kind, generous, memorable lady! If she knew that one of her patrons was celebrating a birthday she would go to the kitchen to see if she had something special for that person. One year, it was George Poissant's birthday. George was a jokester so mom gave him a banana and added candles.  George, of course, had a wise comment to share which made everyone laugh.  It is moments like that which her patrons will always remember. She also enjoyed Halloween and the children stopping by with their costumes because they know mom was eager to see them.

It was our hope to bring the many memories my siblings and I shared, as well as our friends and their children shared with our mom, at The Weathercock in Chazy. Unfortunately, the establishment burned to the ground on February 4, 2023! Many people reached out to my family and I and were saddened as we all were to hear this news!  Many wonderful, happy memories were made and that is something we will always cherish.

Vascular Dementia has brought out a very different side to our mother. A side we would never in a million years imagine her to become. It is a very emotional disease. It is hard to watch your loved one struggle with the unknown, forgetting how to sometimes eat, walk, talk and possibly even remember who you are. It is not the physical person who is before you, it is their loss of cognitive functioning that has taken your loved one from you.

It is so important to raise awareness of this horrible, unimaginable disease. I hope you will join Team Jackie O while we walk to end Alzheimer's on Saturday, September 21at Thompson Park.  If you are unable to walk, possibly make a donation, or even volunteer your time at the event.

Thank you and bless you all for your support!