Join the Movement to End Alzheimer’s Disease: Memory Walk on Saturday, 9/19 at Hidden Lake Park

When asked by Louise Thompson (who is with the Alzheimer's Association) if I would say a couple of things about the memory walk on September 19th at Hidden Lake, I thought I would share my story.

My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimers a couple of years ago and it put an incredible amount of stress on my family, especially my mother.  I used to visit my grandmother on Wednesdays at her home in Wanatah, Indiana.  One day I received a call from my mother and my mom said "Your Grandma is wondering why you are coming over to her home?"  As you can imagine, it made me feel pretty little in the world when my own Grandmother was not excited to see her grandson, but instead she was concerned why this 25 year old male was visiting her.  She knew who I was but she wasn't all there in her head and she could not figure out why this young man was visiting her.  It fealt almost as if she thought I was going to do something bad to her.


As you can imagine, it made me quite defensive and I responded by saying "That's fine, I won't give up my Wednesdays when I should be going to the Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis anyway".  As I had many discussions with my Mom, I knew that there were some deeper issues going on.  It still made me feel distanced to my Grandma who used to be so strong in the mind.  This was the same woman that made the meals on Sundays after church in her old farmhouse overlooking the fields that my grandpa used to Farm.   What happened to this fine woman.  What were the trials my mom was going through during this time?  I hope to never have that happen to my Mom.  

It is a cold hard-fact that this may affect someone in our local area someday.  I hope it is not you, but I can tell you that if you want to support a good cause.

Join the Movement to End Alzheimer’s disease!  The Memory Walk is scheduled for Saturday, September 19th at Hidden Lake Park, 6355 Broadway in Merrillville.  Registration begins at 11:00 AM, and the Memory Walk begins at 12:00 Noon.  Funds raised at the Memory Walk help the Alzheimer's Association provide programs and services to many families in need, as well as, supporting advocacy and research to find a cure! 

Be a part of the movement to end Alzheimer’s.  Together with friends and family, you can bring help and hope to millions of Americans living with this disease – and millions more at risk.  Your participation will make a difference!

Will you captain a team and be on the MOVE to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease?? Our goal is to host 85 teams at this year's Memory Walk, and we need your help to reach our goal!!!!!

Please sign up to participate.  Just log-on to www.alz.org/indiana and click on Memory Walk.  If you can't do the Memory Walk but you want to help, there are three ways that you can help:

  • Collect donations in support of the event.
  • Volunteer your time at the event.  Volunteers are needed in several areas such as supervising children’s activities, directing traffic, event set-up and/or event tear-down.
  • Please help us spread the word by posting the attached flyer and encourage friends, family and co-workers to come out on September 19th!

Please come out on September 19th and have a great time with family and friends, while supporting the fight against Alzheimer's Disease.

Do you have questions or need more information? Please contact Louise Thompson at 219-464-9600, 219-508-3502 or at louise.thompson@alz.org.

Together, we are on the MOVE to end Alzheimer’s disease.

Sincerely,
James Tudor