Hello! My name is Darlene Berg. I’m a personal trainer from Southern California, so health and fitness are extremely important to me, just as they were to my Bachan (Japanese for Grandma). Today, June 20, I am doing 16 hours of continuous activity to fight Alzheimer’s. This cause is one of the closest things to my heart because my Bachan passed away on January 25, 2012, from Alzheimer’s disease. It was an incredibly challenging and [...]
Today, I am taking a stand against Alzheimer’s by participating in Alzheimer’s Association The Longest Day™. My name is Trevor Barroer. I’m 18 years old, and I’m the founder and team captain of The Memory Musicians. I established the team in loving memory of my grandma, Claudette Maddox, who passed away on April 15 of this year. Growing up, my grandmother acted as my third parent. She was an absolutely beautiful individual, inside and out, [...]
Today, I am participating in Alzheimer’s Association The Longest Day™ and biking 86 miles (the weather permitting and God willing) to honor my mother. My mom, Althea Hudzinski, is the second youngest of 10 children, all of which suffered from Alzheimer’s disease (excluding one that died of Cancer). She is the sole survivor of her siblings — and what amazes me is that she was there for each and every one of them. Early on, [...]
It’s 6:19 a.m. and it’s dark. I’ve had three shots of espresso and my legs are vibrating and tears are streaming down my face. I shouldn’t be here. My ride for Alzheimer’s Association The Longest Day™ should never have happened. My grand plans — having a big team and raising lots of money to beat this horrible disease that stole my mom — fell apart. Alzheimer’s got in the way. I’m standing next to Rebecca, [...]
Ciao tutti, My name is Gina Steedley Wills. My biological grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at age 55 and eventually passed away at age 63. She went from being a very strong, tall, intelligent woman to just a shell, a skeleton. It was a terrible way to leave this world and it made quite an impact on me. Today I’m running and walking for three hours as part of the Alzheimer’s Association The Longest [...]
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 [...]
