There are many reasons to walk on September 28th, like the fact that every 71 seconds someone contracts Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. Or the fact that in the state of Oregon over 65,000 people are currently living with the disease. The staggering fact that 10 million baby boomers will develop the disease in their lifetime might be enough to pull out those tennis shoes. But statics aren’t reason enough for me. I walk because Alzheimer’s took my mom too early.
My mom was in her early fifties when symptoms of Alzheimer's appeared. She wore smart suits, a short bob, and was begging me to have a baby because she was ready to be a grandmother. By the time I had my first child a few years later she couldn't tie her shoes, write her name, or impart any parenting advice.
Come walk with me on Sunday, September 28th which is the two year anniversary of my mom's death. Move to end Alzheimer's disease. The Portland Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association's Memory Walk takes place 9:00 AM in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Visit www.alz.org for more information and to join a team.
