“Yes, I do,” I said. “Purple is the
Alzheimer’s color and I plan to wear purple every day in June for Alzheimer’s
and Brain Awareness Month.”
Tuesday was a complete Go Purple
day for me. Not only did I wear purple, I spent the day with Paige from the
Greater Missouri Chapter on Alzheimer’s related activities. First, we taped
shows on two different radio stations, we contacted several businesses about
teams and corporate sponsors, and we found a venue for an August program and
care consultation. The day went really well and I found the enthusiasm and
support to be a refreshing change.
The Alzheimer’s Association has a
one-day event called the Longest Day. Of course, the longest day of the year is
in June and this year, the fundraiser is celebrated on June 21. The Longest Day
is about love for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. People participate in an activity
they love—playing games, exercising, sports, hobbies—and while they enjoy their
activity, they raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association.
The Longest Day is a perfect fit
for the Alzheimer’s Association. Caregivers can attest to the intensity and
length of each caregiving day. The most well-known family guide about Alzheimer’s
and related dementia caregiving is called the 36-Hour Day for a reason. Any Alzheimer’s caregiver can tell you why.
By June, I’m always working on the
Alzheimer’s Walk and have never fully participated in a Longest Day team. I
believe this would be a great opportunity for someone who isn’t involved in the
Walk to End Alzheimer’s, but wants to help support the Alzheimer’s programs.
Of course, I’d encourage everyone
to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. We are always pleasantly
surprised to see people we weren’t expecting show up on walk day.
Our walk committee has been small
for several years. The same core group has faithfully taken on the task of
making the walk a well-attended community event. As it gets closer to walk
time, we hope to grow our committee. Many hands make light work. We’ve always
been fortunate to have event day volunteers, but fresh ideas and new perspectives
are always welcome. We want our walk to be better each year!
I hope you get a chance to
participate in the Longest Day or a Walk to End Alzheimer’s no matter where you
live. You can go to act.alz.org to find information about the Longest Day
and/or find a walk near you. You can help in many ways—you can volunteer for
the committee, start a team, join a team, support a team, or show up on walk
day, make a donation, and enjoy.
In the meantime, remember to Go
Purple! When someone asks you if you like the color purple, it is your opening
to create awareness for the five million in the United States who have
Alzheimer’s and the fifteen million family caregivers.
Copyright © June 2017 by L.S.
Fisher
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