Walk To End Alzheimer's
Our Speakers today were Kathy Harvard, Volunteer Chair Upper Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s Advocate with Tim Fisher, Team Andy: Alzheimer's Association
From the Upper Valley Walk to End Alzheimer's Web Page (Click here for more information)
Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This year’s event won’t be a large in-person gathering, but we are still walking — and calling on participants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease.
This year, Walk to End Alzheimer’s is everywhere — on every sidewalk, track and trail. On event day, we invite you to participate in small, safe teams while others in your community do the same.
While there is no fee to register for Walk, all participants are encouraged to raise funds that will advance the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association by enabling critical care and support services and advancing research toward methods of prevention, treatment and, ultimately, a cure.
Aside: Kathy’s virtual background was full of images of handmade Tibetan rugs available for purchase at her web site with a Fall Sale starting tomorrow.
From her presentation:
Kathy is a volunteer advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association. Her husband, Andy Harvard suffered from younger onset Alzheimer’s and passed away in January 2019. UV Alzheimer’s Walk is scheduled for October 10.
Kathy focused her talk on
- Alzheimer’s in general; it’s only the most common form of dementia, but there are many others.
- The Alzheimer’s Association
- The Walk
Tim Fisher – former Rotarian and right-hand best friend to Kathy. He’s the sponsorship chair this year, an Alzheimer’s Caregiver and a member of Team Andy. Tim is a former Lebanon Rotarian. He shared that it was great to see many at the meeting whom he knew from Rotary. Tim is a PHF and past president in 2000.
Kathy and Rotary: Kathy worked for UNICEF for 20 years in many countries and at headquarters in NY. She was directly involved with the PolioPlus program in Africa and Asia. Met Rotarians from all over the world, Europe, North American and what she saw was stunning. She saw government leaders who felt they wouldn’t be able to do anything as ambitious as an National Immunization Day (NID) but when they heard Rotary was involved, it stiffened the the leaders backbone – in many countries, it was Rotary that made the difference, that made it happen.
Kathy is part of a fraternity/sorority to which no one wants to belong. Andy was diagnosed in 2009 and it was a long hard journey learning about systems and going through the disease. She became an advocate because she had a lot to say about it. She agreed to chair the 2020 Walk even though they cannot have a physical walk.
Alzheimer’s disease is a global epidemic – 50 million people around the world. 5.8 million Americans – 40k with dementia in NH and VT alone. Dementias are the 6th leading cause of death in the US, and so far there is no cure. People think it’s a disease of age; it is exacerbated by age but it is a brain dysfunction caused by a number of things. One can have a higher genetic likelihood but it doesn’t mean you will get it. Other elements like general health, diet, concussions in the past, diseases one might have had and other factors decide who will be symptomatic. About 1 of 3 over 80 will have some symptoms of dementia before they die.
Through better education we believe that better health could reduce the incidence as has occurred with heart disease and breast cancer. Even though we don’t have Alzheimer’s therapies, there are disease-modifying things we can do to reduce the incidence.
Why raise money? – The disease is expensive and devastating not only to the individual but to others around the individual. On fifth of Medicare is being paid for dementia care services. There could be as many as 14-16 million people by 2050 with a tax bill of nearly a trillion dollars per year!
The disease process is progressive and long – most of what you can do is give care. Today, 60 million Americans are providing care – this has an economic impact - $244 billion not going into the economy.
Alzheimer’s Association is the largest volunteer organization dealing with the disease providing care and support; research; awareness-raising and advocacy. Headquarters in Chicago but organized by state – Mass/NH and VT are two chapters.
Alzheimer’s Association provides (a) 24/7 helpline 800-272-3900 to support caregiver questions/support, (b) ALZ Connected – people with the disease can speak to others under going the experience, (c) support groups – talk to your peers who understand what you are going through.
In March and April, the organization pivoted to perform all these service on line.
- Education and Empowerment – What is/isn’t dementia? 24/7 information available. Workshops for businesses re: warning signs. All this at no cost to the users.
- Research – currently investing more than $185 million in 30 countries. Getting closer to having a way to diagnose the condition BEFORE symptoms are visible. Therapies are being developed to use before symptoms to reduce the impact of the disease over time.
- Prevention – brain health as important at heart health – diet, exercise, keeping brain engaged, etc.
- Advocacy – for increased government support to research, legislation that will protect folks in long-term care, “silver alert” for those who go missing.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s – the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds. More than 500,000 persons of all ages and abilities participate annually in over 600 communities nationwide.
Tim shared that this year, we are going to walk anywhere and everywhere.
Last year, the Upper Valley raised $86,000 from 35 teams and 400 participants.
To participate on Saturday, October 10, we’ll have a “Promise Garden” for flags for those we’ve lost, to appreciate caregivers, and for those struggling. No specific routes – walk wherever you are. There will be an on-line starting ceremony.
Register at alz.org/walk. Lebanon Rotary could start a team. Hank stated he might explore this. To participate you should make donations, choose a name, invite friends and family to join you and walk wearing purple.
If any one is interested in a sponsorship opportunities contact Tim: tim@fisherfinancialadvisors.com.
“Going Purple” -- Fat Hat is creating 100 purple face masks and TK sports is producing 100 t-shirts that Tim will distribute to businesses and restaurants to generate conversations around the Upper Valley.
Questions:
Ernst Oidtmann: Walking itself is quite useful to delay the onset of ALZ, one of the three relatively proven modalities to delay the onset.
Rich Wallace: Does the distance matter for the walk?
Tim: No. Raising awareness and money are most important.
JoAnn wanted everyone to know that she’s participated for a number of years now.
Kathy Harvard is a long time volunteer advocate for the Alzheimer's Association and work closely with the Alzheimer's Associations of New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts to expand awareness and support services for families struggling with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. This includes lobbying for legislative action at federal and state levels and engaging with community organizations to help growing numbers of families who are supporting a loved one with dementia. She is the Director of Marketing and Sales for a local business, but for more than a decade Kathy and her Children supported her husband, Andy Harvard, who suffered from Younger Onset Alzheimer's Disease. Andy lost his battle with Alzheimer's a year ago, but we continue to step up and speak out as part of a growing movement to end Alzheimer's and related dementia.
Tim Fisher and Kathy Harvard are longtime family friends and are pleased to be able to work with many others to organize this year' Upper Valley Walk to End Alzheimer's on October 10.
Alzheimer's is a critical public health crisis that affects all of us. The Upper Valley Walk to End Alzheimer's is a way all of us can be part of bringing this disease to an end.
The book being giving to the Kilton Library in honor of our speakers, Kathy Harvard and Tim Fisher is:
Bruno, the Standing Cat
Meet a silly and absurd cat who's like no cat you've ever met before, in this inventive and unusual book from the illustrator of the picture-book version of John Lennon's song "Imagine."
When a box arrives on Peter's doorstep, he opens it to find Bruno, a cat who is standing up on two legs. It is very odd. Bruno likes to chew bubble gum, play house, and skateboard--and refuses to engage in any catlike behavior. But Peter likes Bruno, and so they become friends and do everything they can think of together.
When a box arrives on Peter's doorstep, he opens it to find Bruno, a cat who is standing up on two legs. It is very odd. Bruno likes to chew bubble gum, play house, and skateboard--and refuses to engage in any catlike behavior. But Peter likes Bruno, and so they become friends and do everything they can think of together.
Bruno, the standing cat, stands up and walks and runs--just as we should do for the Alzheimer's Walk.