Well, it’s that time of year again. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s has moved from June to September, and apparently that has thrown me off! I’m just now – with the Walk less than a month away – starting my fundraising in earnest, so I have a lot of catching up to do.

This year’s event will take place on September 14, one day shy of 9 months since my beautiful mother was set free of this horrible disease. Last year, we raised $2,670, and I would love nothing more than to honor her memory by beating that – even if by just one dollar! If you can help, please visit Marilyn’s Mighty Memory Makers on the web to donate.

This is a disease that can strike any family – it doesn’t discriminate, and almost all of us have been or know someone who has been personally touched by its wrath.

Based on those numbers, there’s no question that time is of the essence. Researchers are making advances every single day, but funding is just not there yet. In 2011, the NIH spent $3 billion on research into AIDS, $4.3 billion on heart disease, and $5.8 billion for cancer…  Compare those figures to what is being spent annually on ALZ research… less than $500 million.  

Yet ALZ is the only cause of death among the top 10 in America without a way to prevent it, cure it or even slow its progression. Deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 68 percent between 2000 and 2010, while deaths from other major diseases, including the number one cause of death (heart disease), decreased.

If you would like to help, please visit Marilyn’s Mighty Memory Makers on the web. It only take a few clicks to make a contribution, and every little bit helps.