Alone we can do so little; Together we can do so much

 "Every person living with Alzheimer’s disease depends on a team; a medical team, a team of supportive friends and a team of dedicated family. These teams are vital throughout the Alzheimer’s journey, just as our teams are vital to the success of Walk to End Alzheimer’s."

                                                      -The Alzheimer's Association

 Teamwork is an essential part of Alzheimer's care. It is an important part of life itself regardless of our age, ability or intelligence. It’s the glue which keeps people together. The oil that makes the unit work. Teamwork provides support, while pushing us ahead and prolonging forward momentum. Let's think about it. The Fab Five wouldn't have been the same if it was the Fab One. One person alone could not have saved Apollo 13. The Manhattan Project hurtled a group of scientists to the forefront of atomic discovery. Without further ado, I can't begin this post without first giving my thanks to the friends and family who supported The Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Research on Alzheimer’s disease is at a crucial stage, and events like Saturday’s walk provide funds for that work. The walk was also an opportunity to raise awareness about Legacy of Love; an organization I created to support children who have a loved one with Alzheimer's. My mom has been instrumental in helping me develop Legacy of Love over the past few years and I cannot thank her enough for her efforts.

Joined by my mom and lifelong family friends. Thank you for your generosity and support.

When I first arrived to the walk, I had to pause and take a look around. Pre-walk activities were only beginning, but there was already a large group of people decked out in purple. It was 8 am on a Saturday morning, and their spirit was larger than life. Turning Tampa purple for World Alzheimer’s Month brings the community together to honor the unsung, everyday heroes, the caregivers and families. It really is amazing to see how a community rallies for a cause and in this case, a cause that is so important to me. 

The Walk to End Alzheimer's is an opportunity to collectively remember, educate and build awareness of a disease that affects many families in our community. I am so proud of my team for embracing that opportunity.

World Alzheimer's month is over, but our efforts are far from the finish line. Together, we can make every month one of awareness and progress toward a cure.