On September 27, 2008 I participated in the annual Alzheimer's Memory Walk in honor of my Mother and also my Uncle Lyle, Mom's brother. This was an occasion in which I along with my sister and a wonderful team of 11+ members from Estill Springs, TN raised donations to benefit the education and research for a cure, as well as help out the local chapter to provide for the needs to us in the community in various ways.
This was my first experience in being involved in such an event and I have to say, I was amazed at the support and dedication we have in our community.
I am proud to be a part of a community that strives to help others and support in the needs of all. Our little town collected the most donations for this Memory Walk. The leader of our team along with a few others were gracious in wearing buttons with a picture of our Mom, for all who came to participate in this event.
Her reaction was very touching to me as we entered into the mass of 400+ participants. I wasn't sure if she would be overwhelmed, withdrawn, nervous or just express her discomfort of being surrounded by so many friends and admirers. I saw a spark of the Mother I know as she was greeted and hugged by so many. She was in her realm. She was "Queen for the Day" and loving every minute of it. Friends, neighbors, colleagues she worked with as a Kindergarten teacher in the local school, the city and county Mayors and elected officials were all there.....walking in honor of Marilyn. Yep, she stood tall, I saw the smile I remembered seeing day after day growing up, the light in her eyes shown through again and she was back! for just that brief moment in time.
She walked proudly helping our team to carry the Memory Walk banner since Estill Springs was the lead team to bring in the most donations. She WALKED the full track around the football field of the local high school!I kept telling her how proud I was of her accomplishing such a walk. She smiled at me and said "Thank you.".
Our Mom in the middle wearing black
helping to carry the banner of the 2008 Memory Walk.
My husband took pictures of this memorable event. I got them back just today. I showed them to Mother today. She didn't remember this occasion. But she was happy to see the pictures. I'll keep them in a special album for her. We'll set the album on the table beside her place in the living room so that family and friends can share them and the moment with her.
She may not remember the day of this event, but her soul will reflect the time she came back to us, even if just for that brief moment. That's what we do around here, we live in the moment.
Whether by way of a holiday card to an old friend or a letter to a serviceman overseas, the Alzheimer's disease cause will now be seen and talked about around the globe as the U.S. Postal Service has issued the first Alzheimer's Awareness stamp. According to the Postal Service, 65 million 42-cent stamps have been issued "to raise awareness of issues surrounding the dreadful disease and to draw attention to the importance of the caregiver." The stamp itself is a poignant silhouette of a caregiver embracing a loved one, and is intended to promote care, support and research of the brain disorder. In the words of the artist who designed the stamp, Matt Mahurin, "I wanted to have a balance between the kindness of caregivers and the sadness of the disease, but also the message of hope that was indicated in making a stamp to bring attention to the disease." Eric Hall, AFA's Chief Executive Officer, shares his own reflection on the ability of the stamp to break through the silence surrounding Alzheimer's disease on Health Central.
