There’s a feeling of advocacy in the air! Tomorrow, I’ll don purple from head-to-toe and participate in my 8th Walk to End Alzheimer’s!! I’ve been on the planning committee for the past couple of years, so it’s exciting to be walking again. I look forward to taking everything in and connecting with the meaning, emotion, and excitement of the event. It’s looking like 81 degrees and sunshine – a perfect day!

Then, it’s on to the 3rd Annual UsAgainstAlzheimer’s National Alzheimer’s Summit in Washington. The Summit is a two-day event jam packed with panel discussions that include some of today’s most important voices in Alzheimer’s care, research, and advocacy.

First Lady Laura Bush will be the keynote speaker for the Out of the Shadows dinner where House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senator Kelly Ayotte will be honored for their commitment to fighting Alzheimer’s disease. Advocate Greg O’Brien, author of On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s, will also be honored for the hope and courage he displays each day in his own battle against this disease.

 

Capping off the event, we’ll spend a day on Capitol Hill meeting with Senate and Congressional offices, telling our personal stories and asking for additional funding in the FY 2017 budget as well as support of the EUREKA Act and the Alzheimer’s Beneficiary and Caregiver Support Act.

The Summit and Hill Day events are certain to be educational, energizing, and filled with hope and determination. Sharing these two days with such devoted and passionate human beings – all focused on the same goal – is truly inspiring. Be sure to look for the hashtags #StopAlzWithAction and #WeWontWait to keep up on what’s happening!

Here are a few photos from 2014 and 2015.

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