Les Johnson died with Alzheimers on April 16th, 2020. He was a happy guy, a runner, a preacher, a character. He was my dad. I miss him. Because of his disease we lost him, well, before we lost him. When he took his last breath, I was relieved. We'd had 10 years to say goodbye, and as the disease took its toll on him, he would say "there's less and less of Les"... until he wasn't able to say much of anything at all.

I don't know how far I will be able to walk on October 19. I'm just taking my first steps now as I recover from a compound fracture. And I know there's so many good causes; I'm usually raising money for someone or something; I've been a professional beggar since I was 14 and needed to raise money to go to the Illinois State Fair to work at a church exhibit. But this cause is close enough to my heart that I'm gonna give one day and as many steps as possible to helping raise money and making folks more aware of what has become the most prominent malady facing the aged right now. If you can help please do. And if I can ever walk for you please let me know. Take care of your knees!

ATTENTION PLEASE: Thanks to many generous donors my original goal was hit and raised multiple times. But the cause continues to need money and some friends have continued to contact me and say they still want to contribute. Some are also contacting me because they, too, have loved ones affected by Alzheimer's and they urge me to keep raising my goal.

The fundraising world strategizes to get money like any good event would and this cause is one that so many of us care deeply about.

But some donors may see that a fundraiser is close to their goal and give the amount needed to hit it and then see that goal get raised and feel like they've been mislead so I've decided to leave the goal on my page as it is, but encourage anyone who stumbles in here and wishes to help me raise money... Go for it please!

But if you'd really like to be encouraging help me help the rest of our team and support one of our other team members! Click on our KATU team link and help one of these great hearted people make their goal!

https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2024/OR-OregonampSWWashington?team_id=858889&pg=team&fr_id=17868

Alzheimer's isn't stopping and neither are we. By participating in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's, I'm raising awareness and funds to advance the fight against this disease - funds that allow the Alzheimer's Association to provide 24/7 care and support while accelerating critical research.

Families facing Alzheimer's and all other dementia need us - and with your help, we can be there for them. Please make a donation or register as a participant and start your own fundraising efforts. Together, we can end Alzheimer's disease.

Thank you for your support!