On September 2, 2010, right in the middle of the U.S. Open, I lost my beloved mother, Paula Shmerler, to the ravages of Alzheimer's disease. In our case, Mom's mind dissolved long before her body did and, by the end, we believe she was unaware of how dire her situation was. But we'll never truly know since so much about Alzheimer's is still unknown. After Mom's passing at just 81 years old I vowed to her, and to my beloved father, Edwin, that I would do everything I can to help eradicate Alzheimer's and other dementias. There is simply nothing worse than watching a loved one forget your name, look past you with glazed-over eyes, lose the ability to speak and, quite simply, wither away in front of you.

Right now, nearly seven million Americans are living with the disease. That's more than two million more than when I first started my crusade 13 years ago!!! And the numbers are growing exponentially. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the only disease in the top ten that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. It kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Frighteningly, one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia and the lifetime risk at age 45 is one in five for women and one in 10 for men. No one knows why women are more susceptible to Alzheimer's than men. In this year alone, the cost of caring for patients with Alzheimer's in this country will total $360 billion, 15 billion more than last year!. Between 2000 and 2021, deaths from heart disease decreased 2.1 percent while deaths from Alzheimer's disease have increased a staggering 141 percent. If you don't already know someone suffering from this disease, you will soon. It is a sad, unescapable fact that, as we age, dementia is likely to affect all of us in one way or another, whether as a victim, a caregiver or a loved one of someone dealing with the disease. We simply must do something now! 

It is because of my passion and commitment to helping fund research to find a cure, or at least treatments--and they are finally out there--for Alzheimer's that I will be walking with my family in this year's Westchester Walk to End Alzheimer's at Westchester Community College on Sunday, October 6. I continue to walk with and support Team GAGA at Byram Hills High School, the organization founded by my son, Max Levy, after my mother passed away. To date, we have raised more than half a million dollars! If you live locally, we'd love to have you come walk with us! But, more important, I am asking you all to contribute generously to the Alzheimer's Association in honor of my Walk and in memory of my parents. With your help, maybe, just maybe, we can find our First Survivor.

Much love and thanks,

Cindy