Walk to End Alzheimer's 2011

Those of you who've read this blog for awhile know that every year about this time I participate in the Alzheimer's Association "Walk to End Alzheimer's" (formerly called "Memory Walk").  This year is no different and I'll be walking in the Manchester Iowa event on October 8th.  If you would like to find a "Walk to End Alzheimer's" near you in Iowa check here.

The walks raise money for the Alzheimer's Association which bills itself as "the leading, global voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care and support, and the largest private, nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research."  Alzheimer's disease is an incurable, degenerative brain disease.  An early symptom is short-term memory loss, but eventually it leads to severe confusion, loss of linguistic abilities, and ultimately death.  It is currently the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. and its toll is raising.

If you've read the blog for awhile you'll probably also know that I have a personal interest in Alzheimer's disease.  My mom was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's about nine years ago at the age of 60.  Although she was able to live at home with my father most of that time, this year her condition worsened dramatically and she had to move into a nursing home.  It now appears that her time with us is growing short.

Although any cure found with current research funding that may come along will be too late for my mom, it will help somebody's mom... or dad or brother or sister.  That's why I'll be walking in the event.  If anyone would like to sponsor my walk with a small contribution to this worthy cause, please click here.