My "WHY" for participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer's is in memory of my grandmother, Eduly Ross, or as her grandchildren knew her, Vóduly. She was not just the heart of our family but a woman whose spirit refused to be confined by the ordinary. A linguist, a traveler, a lover of animals, and an aficionado of high heels, Voduly embodied a life lived audaciously and lovingly.
She was a mosaic of stories, a tapestry woven with threads of adventure and compassion, perfectly relating her as the BEST seamstress ever. With each clip-clop of her heels, she penned a verse of her unfading strength, and behind every steadfast step, she carried the resilience of generations.
Vóduly was a testament to the beauty of complexity. Knowing she communicated in seven languages is understanding the depth of her desire to connect with the world.
Her legacy stretches far and wide, from the depths of her favorite exotic getaways to the emerald serenity of her beloved dogs. Yet, nothing compares to how she nurtured us, her seven children, and a ton of grandchildren (I think 13 total). Voduly was a sanctuary, a home within a person, where we discovered the infinite value of being unapologetically ourselves. 'Weird' was the badge she wore with honor and one she taught us to don with pride.
The Great Wall of China might be one of this planet's wonders, but the true wonder was hiking alongside Voduly; her vibrant energy was more breathtaking than any panoramic view. None of us will ever find a vacation as enriching or heartwarming as the time spent with her on that monumental journey.
Even as tears blur my eyes while typing this, I remember Voduly's ever-flawless painted nails, her signature heels, and the infectious enthusiasm with which she embraced all life's chapters. My heart will forever be heavy, but it is also full—brimming with the love she gave me, the lessons she taught, and the unending belief that to be different is to be extraordinary.
Voduly's physical presence may have left our midst. Still, her spirit—fierce, tender, and marvelously weird—dances around me like a timeless melody, urging everyone whose path she ever crossed to live vibrantly and to treasure the idiosyncrasies that make up our family tapestry. Plus, the tapestry she once sewed and carried back and forth from Brazil to the USA in a gun case still hangs proudly in my parent's formal dining room.
If Alzheimer's has affected someone as close to you as my grandmother was to me, or her story and memory touch you, or you want to see Alzheimer's be something of the past, please consider making a donation or joining my team for the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer's.
My Progress
Thank you for helping advance Alzheimer's support, care and research.
3175
I have raised
2500
My Goal
My Achievements
Self-Donor
Fundraiser
Top Fundraiser
T-shirt
Champion
Grand Champion
Elite Grand Champion
Storyteller
10 DONATIONS
25 DONATIONS
50 DONATIONS