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Dear Editor:
Where am I? Who are these people? I don’t recognize anyone. What are these marks on this paper? I feel like someone is out to get me. I am angry, confused, disorganized, losing my speech, losing my sense of self, losing my mind.
These are often what people afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease experience. They may be the smartest, most tenacious, hardworking person you know. Perhaps they are soft-spoken, educated, and the kindest person you know. Then personality changes occur, memory loss, paranoia, loss of bodily control and function. They are no longer the person you knew.
Alzheimer’s robs them of their memories of loved ones, or special occasions, their speech, sense of self and eventually their identity. This disease invades and plunders every aspect of the individual: their mobility, speech, personality, and cognition.
On Saturday, Sept. 17, we invite the community to join us for the Race to Remember 5K run/walk benefitting the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. All proceeds will go to this amazing research organization that has earned Charity Navigator’s highest rank for transparent and efficient use of funds to find a cure.
We will meet at Witten Park in Saxony of Fishers with a start time of 8 a.m. (Race T-shirt pick-up and sign-in starts at 7:15 a.m.) We welcome participants to bring pictures of Alzheimer’s warriors past and present. We will celebrate caregivers as well.
All race packets will be filled with organizations and business that help Alzheimer’s patients and their families. If you have a support group, extended care facility, home health agency, or church support group, we want to include your information in our race packets. No monetary contribution is necessary to be included in race packet. Thank you to the Hamilton County Reporter for its amazing support.
We welcome all to join us in this effort to end Alzheimer’s disease. Sign up at tinyurl.com/alzrun or email race2rememeberinfo@gmail.com.
In hope of a Cure to Alzheimer’s Disease,
Irene Young, RN, BSN
Race to Remember 5K
Community Coordinator