Many of you already know my family's story, but for those who don't, here it goes:

My dad, Mike Henley, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease when he was 36. My brother and I were 7 and 9 at the time, respectively. We cared for my dad at home, as a family, for 11 long, terrifying, hilarious, invaluable years. 

During those 11 years, my dad endured countless hospital visits and survived a laundry list of complications that would have knocked out even the healthiest of patients. We watched him as he forgot who we were; as he forgot who he was; as he got angry; as he got scared; as he cried; as he changed - physically and mentally - into a completely different person. We watched him fight through all of this, bravely, with a smile on his face and unbreakable optimism. 

My dad is the reason I am who I am today.

So many people think that Alzheimer's can only happen to the elderly, or that all that happens is the patient becomes forgetful. Neither of these assumptions is true. This disease does not discriminate. It can hit anyone of any age at any time. It transforms the entire person: my dad was a strong, physically fit 36 year old when he was diagnosed, and by the time he passed away at 47, many people thought he was our 70-something year old grandfather. 

Someone needs to do something about this. 

My dad's voice was silenced years ago, but ours are still strong. We walk to be his voice. We walk to be my uncle's voice, and my grandma's voice. It's our turn to speak up and do something in honor of those who can't. 

This year marks the 19th year my family is raising money for the Alzheimer's Association, and we're excited to say that our annual Lemonade Stand is back for tis 18th year in 2024! 18 YEARS, what the HECK!! We can't wait to stand on the corner and wave down unsuspecting passersby once again! 

We need your support now more than ever. There are currently 2 FDA-approved drugs that actually slow the progression of the disease, and even more in the pipeline (some of which are incredibly promising!). This is absolutely game-changing, and none of this would've happened without donors supporting Walk teams nationwide. We're finally making real progress and can't slow down - we need to put our foot on the gas! We know things are still difficult for many, and as always, we greatly appreciate every penny donated to our team and every share on social media. It all helps. It truly does.

Thanks for reading this, and thank you a million times over for your support!