As our first effort at The Longest Day is coming to an end, I’m excited about the potential of this event. When I was on the Chicago Lakefront on my bike during my four hours of riding to honor my mother, who had Alzheimer’s, for all that she did for my brother and me, I was also thinking about all the people who have the disease today (an estimated 5.4 million) and, regrettably, all the people who [...]
I have seen what Alzheimer’s does to an individual first hand. My mother died from Alzheimer’s, my aunt died with Alzheimer’s, and I have an uncle living with the disease. Late this afternoon, as I walk for two-and-a-half hours through downtown Chicago, I will be thinking about all three of them. They are why I work for the Alzheimer’s Association, and why I am participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Longest Day™. I am committed to [...]
The Longest Day was my first fundraising activity for the Alzheimer’s Association and I saw it as an opportunity to honor my family’s ties to the disease. I was also excited about the unique nature of the event — a 15-hour endurance event makes people pay attention! In my personal life, I’m surrounded by people who complete marathons, triathlons and long-distance cycling events, so it’s nice to have a chance to do something out of [...]
Today, I am running and walking the streets of D.C. Why? Because I am participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Longest Day™ in honor of the millions of people around the world living with Alzheimer’s. I’m proud to join with my co-workers in this effort to raise awareness and to honor both those living with Alzheimer’s and the millions of caregivers providing love, attention, and care to their family members or friends. After meeting our wonderful [...]
Today I am walking as part of the Alzheimer’s Association Longest Day™ in honor of my mother’s brother, Armand Paluzzi, and my father’s brother, Patrick Burns. My Uncle Pat was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few years ago. He had to leave his wife and his home to move into a full-time care facility, where the disease quickly and sadly progressed. My wonderful Uncle Pat passed away from this horrible disease shortly thereafter. My Uncle Armand [...]
I’ll never forget the first time I saw my grandmother and realized that she didn’t recognize me. It’s like a punch in the gut that you can’t recover from. During the course of the next two years we witnessed her fade away. Alzheimer’s disease is a thief. It stole her memories, her independence, her quality of life and ultimately contributed to her death. It’s the only cause of death among the top 10 in America without a way to [...]
When I was a kid, the longest day of the year was always one of the most exciting. School was out and we could play outside until dark — and even stay up a little longer to catch fireflies. It was a time of no worries. But today, on the longest day of the year, I am walking more than 10 miles in honor of those who are enduring a life with Alzheimer’s. I am especially [...]
Today, I have the honor of participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Longest Day™. I’m excited to stretch my legs as I explore the nation’s capital and reinvigorate my passion for fighting Alzheimer’s disease, the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. I work at the Alzheimer’s Association because this disease took my grandmother when I was in high school, and I’ll be thinking of her today. It’s fitting to be taking in some of [...]
My name is Irene Hammer-McLaughlin. My dad Russ (his real name is Shelton, so you can see why he went by Russ!) died of vascular dementia in January 2005. In October that same year, my mom Stella (we won’t even go into her real name) was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Today I’m running for four hours as part of the Alzheimer’s Association Longest Day™ because I want to honor my parents, my sister who serves [...]
My grandfather is living with Alzheimer’s disease. My stepfather, Morley, serves as a paid caregiver and companion to a man with Alzheimer’s disease, Roy. Today, I am walking for three hours as part of the Alzheimer’s Association Longest Day™ in honor of these men — Poppy, Morley and Roy — and also my grandmother, Granny Bea, who is Poppy’s caregiver. As I got up bright and early this morning (just before the crack of dawn) [...]
