Did you know that it is expected that by 2050 16 million Americans will be living with Alzheimer’s? That is the population of New York City... TWO TIMES. Let that sit with you for a second. Imagine if you or one of your family members 30 years from now has Alzheimer’s. The reality is, many people already struggle seeing their family members go through this terrible disease. 

 

Sigma Kappa fights to end Alzheimer’s every day. Our mission is to help bring awareness to the disease and help raise money to find a cure. Alzheimer’s is the ONLY disease in the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States that cannot be cured, prevented or slowed. This means that the foundation needs EVERYONES support to continue to raise funding for researchers. For the 2019 fiscal year the National Institute of Health saw a $425 million increase for Alzheimer’s research. ALL THANKS TO YOUR HELP! 

 

The sisters of Sigma Kappa at JMU know this fight all too well. Here is a story from our sister, Breanna, about her grandmother: 

"My parents had me at a younger age, so my Great Grandmother was around for a lot of my childhood. She had Alzheimer's for as long as I can remember. She was diagnosed before I was even born. My family and I would always visit her in the nursing home, and I would dress as a different princess each time I went. She would  go crazy with excitement over this each time and it is something that I knew always made her happy. When other visitors came in, she would tell them all I was her daughter. In fact, the whole nursing home of Alzheimer's patients thought I was her daughter since my Great Grandma would tell all her friends as well. We never corrected her on this because we could see the happiness in her eyes when she told all these people. I loved seeing my Grandmother so happy, especially because this awful disease was tearing her apart. Unfortunately as I began middle school, my Grandmother's health began to quickly deplete. She passed away peacefully not much later. Before she passed, I was able to share one last special moment with her. She gifted me a Beauty and the Beast doll because she had remembered that the Belle dress was my favorite one to wear as a child. The relationship my Grandmother and I had was something that I will cherish forever."

Every donation counts and we hope to have your support. For more information on this disease go to: https://alzfdn.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzJWe35LO5AIVFY_ICh3U5g9XEAAYASAAEgL5c_D_BwE 

 

Sigma Kappa Vice President of Philanthropic Service

Molly Westerman