I've been asked to share my motivation for fundraising, and I do so now from beside my mom's hospital bed. I never could have imagined all the ways Alzheimer's affects a person's life. It's about so much more than just memory. At times, it strips a person of independence, purpose, and dignity, filling her instead with fear, outrage, and confusion. And me? I'm overwhelmed with questions. What will insurance cover? Is she safe when I'm not around? Does she think about me? Has she eaten? Could I have done more sooner to help her? Is she taking her meds? Is it wrong to grieve her, even as I sit here beside her? What am I without this tether between my mother's soul and mine? Will she ever, just for a moment, be the woman she is in my own memories?

For five years, my husband, kids, and I lived with my mom as we fought to get some kind of diagnosis. In that time, my daughter and mother became very close. So, it is for them that I raise funds. For them that I walk. And for them that I bare my soul to the world.

Please consider donating. Or better yet, join our team and help us raise even more 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.

We walk for Mia. We walk for a future.