You've probably already seen a few articles on other blogs about the Alzheimer's Memory Walk. If you have, then that's a good thing. We need to raise awareness of this debilitating disease as much as possible. Besides the millions who have already been diagnosed, there are many who go undiagnosed, especially in "third-world" countries where people can't afford the medical tests.
I was involved with the family of a lady who had Alzheimer's disease. The disease left a horrible imprint on her family and relatives. As it progressed, she had to be confined to a nursing home where she eventually passed away. Her husband lost the will to live and passed away not longer after she did. She didn't even know her husband, or children, months before she passed away. I wasn't related to her, but one of her sons is a good friend of mine and over the course of ten years, he described the things that she did, or didn't do, that led up to her last years in the nursing home. I met her long before the disease was even diagnosed and she was a wonderful lady. I hope they find a cure for it soon so that others don't have to go through what her and her family did.
The Alzheimer's Association is doing a wonderful job with the Memory Walk in raising awareness and funds for care, support and research until a cure is found. I encourage anyone who lives in the United States, who's fit enough to walk even a short distance, to get involved. The walk is only a mere 2 to 3 miles, which is about the distance that I used to walk to and from school as a teenager and far less than the distance I used run daily while in the military. You'll spend less than three hours of your life for this event should you choose to participate.
You don't have to be "gung ho" or anything like that to be a leader in one of the many walks that have already been planned. You can be a Team Captain and start your own team. It's as easy as recruiting three people who then recruit three more and so on. You can recruit family, friends or even colleagues from work. Speaking of work, creating a team like this can build camaraderie between you, your coworkers and even your boss (or bosses). It's a great way to "remove the distance" in your relationships as you "walk the distance".
Ten years ago, I would have been all over this. Unfortunately, my location and the condition of my left leg prevent me from participating. My wife, who's in Avondale, Arizona, is staying less than 20 miles from two different walks that are scheduled for October 27th, 2007. I've contacted her about it and asked her to sign up to participate in one of them. It takes place on a Saturday and knowing my wife, if she can possibly be there, she will be. It wouldn't surprise me if she becomes a team captain herself.
