Walk to End Alzheimer's

The annual Alzheimer's walk will be held 10-9-2011, 2 pm at Alton Baker Park.  There will be information booths, entertainment, food and a memory wall.  To fight this disease I believe we need to come together as a community, support each other and help where needed.  It's hard to be a caregiver and the more support someone has, the better they will be at giving the care.  So come on out, show your support and walk.

Change Was Bound To Happen

Frank Hales has been replaced by Michael Cross.  Initially, I believe, it was a difficult transition for most people who knew Frank and were use to his style of managing and frankly had become close friends with him.  Michael arrived into chaos.  It's been several months and I see good changes evolving.  The hurt feelings of Frank's departure still linger in some but it's time to focus on the task at hand and not the politics which swirl through every organization.  If we keep focused we will find our way.

That said, the Educational Conference is scheduled for November.   Local professionals will be speaking about the disease process and relaying information that is spot on.  Dr.  Larkin, Liz VonWellsheim GNP, Judy Good, RN.  There will be no break out sessions, just straight good information.  I am so thrilled by this line up I can't express it in words.  Professional, local, hitting the heart of the matter.  Please consider attending 11-12-2011!

Alzheimer's Memory Walk

10-10-10 is the date!  Save it, circle it and walk with us at the Alzheimer's Memory Walk.  We will be walking at Alton Baker Park.  It's so much fun to get together as a community and commit to this worthwhile cause.  I think many times people don't think of Alzheimer's disease until personally affected.  It's not usually a young person's disease like some of the cancers so it doesn't get talked about much amongst friends and family until the day it becomes personal.   As the years go by and more and more of your friends and family are diagnosed you will understand the importance of education and support.  It is a disease that strips bit by bit of the whole person.   It is heartbreaking for loved ones to watch and the support of others is the one thing most needed.

Annual Conference!

The Annual Conference will be June 5th at the Eugene Faith Center.  A year of preparation and planning has gone into the conference.    The first meeting of the Education Committee after a conference is spent reviewing what was perfect and what could have been done differently.  Then the brainstorming and prep starts for the next year.

Faces and Voices of Alzheimer's a Community Collage is the name of this years conference.  Although a tad bit wordy, hopefully it conveys that it takes a village, or a community to support caregivers, those diagnosed and anyone affected by this disease. 

The speakers for this year will be outstanding.  I have been a nurse caring for patients with Alzheimer's Disease for 17 years now and each year I learn something new plus I am reminded of things I have forgotten about the disease. (ironic)

The speaker I am most excited about hearing is Joseph F. Quinn, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology Oregon Health & Sciences University.

Join us if you can.  It is one day out of 365.  You never know who has been or will be diagnosed with this disease.   This one day may make a profound difference in the upcoming year.

The Money Is Still Coming In!

It has been two weeks since the Memory Walk and the donations keep coming in.  I am so thankful and happy folks are still donating to our team.  It's been a tough year all over so any money donated is  appreciated.  Looking forward, the Education Committee will be working on the Education Series and Annual Alzheimer's conference.  We also are working to establish an Art For Alzheimer's show that will be a stop on the Eugene, First Friday Art Walk.  Remember the Alzheimer's Association is also a resource for other dementias as well. 

Memory Walk 2009

 Charisa and Jen putting the finishing touches on a photographic wall.

Memory Walk 2009

The Memory Walk was held today!  It was such a beautiful, fun and enjoyable event.  So much work and time went into the preparations and I can honestly say this year was by far the best yet.  Turn out was huge, there was a great car show, massage, espresso, food and entertainment.  In the middle of all the noise was the common thread of why we were there.  One of the huge moments for me was to see a man I have known for about five years who has early onset Alzheimer's.  I believe he is currently in his early 50s.  He has changed.  He has grown old quickly, lost weight and certainly did not remember me.  Poof the memory is gone.  In the gorgeous park with the sun shining down, there was the stark reminder of why we need education, why we need to support each other and why we need to start talking about this disease more than ever.  It is coming.  It will affect some of my friends locally, my friends on Facebook and business acquaintances.  All of us will be touched by this disease in some way.  Unfortunately, we believe the disease is years away but time passes quick and with the blink of an eye, life as we know it can change forever.