Walk to End Alzheimer's 20 SEP 2014 #alzorg

Our walk to end Alzheimer's was held on 20 Sept this year at Bridgeport Park in Santa Clarita, CA. The sky was sunny and the temperature perfect – not too cool or hot. As team captain of the Forget Me Nots, I arrived early, check in, pitched up a pop-up, set up a table, brought folding chairs and a cooler full of water.

The great thing about the event was seeing so many people come out and support the cause. My husband and 12-year-old son also raised funds. We were a "friends and family" team and collected over $4,000.00 for the event making us the #1 fundraising friends & family team.

I wanted to walk because my husband's grandmother, who has always been kind to me, began forgetting things. The most jarring incident for me was when she attended my son's birthday party and had to ask his name. Just recently I learned my own grandmother has dementia. I remember her as such a lively woman, vigorous, full of adventure, smart, and very warm. She had a (still has) a beautiful smile. Granny taught me my prayers, the state capitals, and nurtured my curiosity.

At the promise garden, they were giving out different colors for support. We chose yellow because we were supporting those we knew who had Alzheimer's and their caregivers. A purple flower meant you knew someone who passed from Alzheimer's and an orange flower represented your support for the cause.  

The walk was approximately 2.5 miles and the team showed up in full force. We got our tshirts, drank coffee, grabbed our water, and were off. The website said there were over 350 walkers, but it sure seemed like a lot more showed up!

What I liked about the walk was there was no pressure to rush to finish it. Everyone was glad to be there and support. I was the team captain. Recruiting the team from my co-workers was easy. In fact, my  co-workers made it easy to fundraise. 911 dispatchers are a very generous, kind, and caring people. We started early, last March, fundraising. We sold coffee, had a bake sale, and had a raffle. We made our goal back in June Everyone who signed up on the team had Alzheimer's touch their family in one way or another.

Just a couple of facts:

Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's.

1 in 3 people over 85 has Alzheimer's.

Age is a risk factor in developing dementia.

Dementia is the loss cognitive functioning which include memory, language, visual perception,, and the ability to solve problems.

A great book that will help you understand what caregivers go through was written by Suzette Brown, called "Alzheimer's Through My Mother's Eyes." If anyone would like to share their story or recommend a book or a movie, please do so. You just might inspire someone to seek the help and support they need.

AUG Update: Walk to End Alzheimers Forget Me Nots Team

It's been a busy month for the "Forget Me Nots" Alzheimer's 5K walk team. As I write this, we have 42 days to go until the walk in Santa Clarita, CA on 20 SEP. Let me tell you a little about the team and we hope you consider helping out.

The team consists of my son and 12 co-workers from LAPD's Valley Communications Dispatch Center. We answer 911 for the city of Los Angeles. It's a challenging job, but we find it rewarding to assist those who need help. If anything, that's the glue that keeps us together – that desire to help those who need it. Not only that, all of us have had Alzheimer's touch our lives one way or another.

Fundraising:

July's fundraising consisted of our day watch coffee club and we earned $90.00 the 3rd month for a total of 400.00 from coffee club sales.


WE REACHED GOAL!  Due to the overwhelming support of my co-workers, our families, and friends, we've reached our $2,000.00 goal, earning to date: $2,430.00. We want to thank everyone who has supported us. ((hugs))

We are planning an opportunity drawing around the 1st SEP. 

If you'd like to donate to help the team you can follow this link. Any amount is welcomed. http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2014/CA-CaliforniaSouthland?team_id=204372&pg=team&fr_id=4950

My story:

My son (who is also walking) and I know someone who is developing Alzheimer's. The other day we invited her to Easter and she asked for our address. She's been to our house many, many times. It broke my heart. I see the struggle it takes on a family, and I know it's hard. If anyone would like to share their story, please do. Know that you're not alone in your struggles to provide care for your loved one. This is why I walk. To help those family members who care for their loved ones with the disease.

Reading:
I just read a great book that chronicles the challenges caregivers face when helping family members deal with Alzheimer's. It's called Alzheimer's Through My Mother's Eyes by Suzette Brown. If you wold like to suggest or recommend a book for those who support alzheimer's patients, please do so. Here's a link to Suzette's book:  http://amzn.com/B00H5QAY3A

Alzheimer's facts:

In 2013, 15.5 million family and friends provided 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer's valued at 220.2 billion.

Today over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's.

1 in 3 people over 85 has Alzheimer's. Andrew's grandmother is 83.

How to obtain a diagnosis:

A doctor will need to evaluate a patient's history, conduct a physical exam, and do a comprehensive neurological evaluation that assesses balance, sensory function, reflexes and vision.

If you have concerns or something doesn't seem right, the sooner you involve a medical professional, the better. Early intervention goes a long way in helping you to prepare for quality of life issues.

Please, if you have a story you'd like to share, we'd love to hear it.

All the best

Steph

JUL 2014 Update: Walk to End Alzheimer's Forget Me Nots Team

It's been a busy month for the "Forget Me Nots" Alzheimer's 5K walk team. As I write this, we have 71 days to go until the walk in Santa Clarita, CA on 20 SEP. Let me tell you a little about the team and we hope you consider helping out.

The team consists of my son and 12 co-workers from LAPD's Valley Communications Dispatch Center. We answer 911 for the city of Los Angeles. It's a challenging job, but we find it rewarding to assist those who need help. If anything, that's the glue that keeps us together – that desire to help those who need it. Not only that, all of us have had Alzheimer's touch our lives one way or another.

Fundraising:

June's fundraising consisted of our day watch coffee club and we earned $110.00 the 3rd month for a total of 310.00 from coffee club sales.


WE REACHED GOAL!  Due to the overwhelming support of my co-workers, our families, and friends, we've reached our $2,000.00 goal, earning to date: $2,240.00. We want to thank everyone who has supported us. ((hugs))

We are planning a chili food fundraiser for work and we're looking on holding it on 1 SEP. I'll have more infomation on my August update.

If you'd like to donate to help the team you can follow this link. Any amount is welcomed. http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2014/CA-CaliforniaSouthland?team_id=204372&pg=team&fr_id=4950

My story:

My son (who is also walking) and I know someone who is developing Alzheimer's. The other day we invited her to Easter and she asked for our address. She's been to our house many, many times. It broke my heart. I see the struggle it takes on a family, and I know it's hard. If anyone would like to share their story, please do. Know that you're not alone in your struggles to provide care for your loved one. This is why I walk. To help those family members who care for their loved ones with the disease.

Reading:
I just read a great book that chronicles the challenges caregivers face when helping family members deal with Alzheimer's. It's called Alzheimer's Through My Mother's Eyes by Suzette Brown. If you wold like to suggest or recommend a book for those who support alzheimer's patients, please do so. Here's a link to Suzette's book:  http://amzn.com/B00H5QAY3A

Alzheimer's facts:

In 2013, 15.5 million family and friends provided 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer's valued at 220.2 billion.

Today over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's.

1 in 3 people over 85 has Alzheimer's. Andrew's grandmother is 83.

How to obtain a diagnosis:

A doctor will need to evaluate a patient's history, conduct a physical exam, and do a comprehensive neurological evaluation that assesses balance, sensory function, reflexes and vision.

If you have concerns or something doesn't seem right, the sooner you involve a medical professional, the better. Early intervention goes a long way in helping you to prepare for quality of life issues.

Please, if you have a story you'd like to share, we'd love to hear it.

All the best

Steph

It's been a busy month for the "Forget Me Nots" Alzheimer's 5K walk team. As I write this, we have 99 days to go until the walk in Santa Clarita, CA on 20 SEP. Let me tell you a little about the team and we hope you consider helping out. 

The team consists of my son and 12 co-workers from LAPD's Valley Communications Dispatch Center. We answer 911 for the city of Los Angeles. It's a challenging job, but we find it rewarding to assist those who need help. If anything, that's the glue that keeps us together – that desire to help those who need it. Not only that, all of us have had Alzheimer's touch our lives one way or another.

Fundraising:

May's opportunity drawing earned the team $242.00. Currently, our day watch is running a coffee club and we've earned $100.00 the 2nd month for a total of 200.00 from coffee club sales.


WE REACHED GOAL!  Due to the overwhelming support of my co-workers, our families, and friends, we've reached our $2,000.00 goal, earning to date: $2,055.00. We want to thank everyone who has supported us. ((hugs))

We don't have any more group fundraising events planned, but we would like to encourage you to support the team.

If you'd like to donate to help the team you can follow this link. Any amount is welcomed. http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2014/CA-CaliforniaSouthland?team_id=204372&pg=team&fr_id=4950

My story:

My son (who is also walking) and I know someone who is developing Alzheimer's. The other day we invited her to Easter and she asked for our address. She's been to our house many, many times. It broke my heart. I see the struggle it takes on a family, and I know it's hard. If anyone would like to share their story, please do. Know that you're not alone in your struggles to provide care for your loved one. This is why I walk. To help those family members who care for their loved ones with the disease.

Alzheimer's facts:

In 2013, 15.5 million family and friends provided 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer's valued at 220.2 billion.

Today over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's.

1 in 3 people over 85 has Alzheimer's. Andrew's grandmother is 83.

How to obtain a diagnosis:

A doctor will need to evaluate a patient's history, conduct a physical exam, and do a comprehensive neurological evaluation that assesses balance, sensory function, reflexes and vision.

If you have concerns or something doesn't seem right, the sooner you involve a medical professional, the better. Early intervention goes a long way in helping you to prepare for quality of life issues.

Please, if you have a story you'd like to share, we'd love to hear it.

All the best

Steph

Walk to End Alzheimer's - APR 14 Update #alzheimers

I recently attended a conference at work and stopped by a booth for Alzheimer's awareness. I can't say there was anything that really grabbed my attention – I knew it affected millions of Americans, especially in their older years. It's a disorder that's touched everyone's lives one way or another, even mine.

I glanced at the literature at the table, asked a couple of questions, then spied a flyer: Walk to End Alzheimer's. I love to walk. I can't really describe how I felt – empowered, maybe? My gut was telling me to help so I picked up the flyer and after a few days of mulling over the feasibility of such a daunting undertaking I formed a team.

I asked a bunch of ladies at work if they were interested and wanted to join. They were very enthusiastic and jumped right on board.

It feels good to be helping such a worthy cause and everyone on the team has had Alzheimer's touch their lives. My team is the "Forget Me Nots" and I'd like to give a shout out to the ladies on the team: Jessie Loya, Debi Tinker, Lori Powell, D'Arcy Schroeder, Deby Herdrich and Seanean Durden. We'll be walking 5K on Sep 20^th, 2014 in Santa Clarita, CA. Our individual goal is $100.00 and our team goal is $2000.00.

Our first group fundraiser will be a bake sale at the Valley Communications Dispatch Center in LA on 15 April.

I know most people reading the blog can't come out to LA to support our first group effort, but if you would consider supporting the team with a monetary donation, it would be most appreciated. Any amount is welcomed.

If you donate over $50.00, I'll send you a print book from my backlog: Victorian Scoundrel, The Hungarian, or The Faberge Secret, along with a Lori Powell original book bag.

My next team update will be on 10 MAY here on my blog. So far the team has raised $75.00.

Here's a link to our team page on Alz.org if you'd like to donate:

http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2014/CA-CaliforniaSouthland?team_id=204372&pg=team&fr_id=4950

Again, thanks so much. This endeavor is a big thing for all of us. It's a little scary, too, but knowing that we've helped, even a little, means a lot to us.

Just a little about Alzheimer's:

** Wear purple to show your support for Alzheimer's.

** Alzheimer's is a common form of dementia over 65.

** Age is the primary risk for developing Alzheimer's.

** Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning.

** For dementia, 2 or more mental functions must be impaired. They include: memory, language skills, visual perception, the ability to focus and pay attention, and the ability to reason and solve problems.

** Some people with dementia can't control their emotions, resulting in delusions. The most common is a strong belief, without proof, that someone is stealing from them.

For more info visit: Alz.org

Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher with LAPD. She's also a romance and children's author published with 4RV Publishing, Desert Breeze, and Victory Tales Press. She's married, is addicted to coffee, adores chocolate, and a chauffer to her boy's busy schedule.