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Sep 28th, 2020 - 21:36:18 |
When Becky Holland saw the advertisement each year for any Alzheimer’s Association fundraising event, she would just kind of shrug it off.
That is until more than 12 years ago when Holland lost someone who had heavily influenced her life – her maternal grandmother, Lois. “Grandma was 95 when she died and dealt with symptoms for the last few years of her life… my uncle and dad spent a lot of time with her … it wasn’t hard … it was different.” Holland said.
“Did you know that according to research, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States?”
Right now, Holland added, “That means more than five million Americans are living with the disease. Look around you … not only are we still in the strongholds of a pandemic with the COVID-19, we are still dealing with the epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease.”
She said, “Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia which is a … well … it is just a general term for memory loss and loss of other cognitive abilities that hinder daily living. Dementia is not a specific disease … I discovered all the ideas I had about the disease weren’t exactly true.”
“I am so not a fit person, and I am overweight, but I was like I can walk, so I signed up to do the End Alzheimer’s Walk.” It is an annual fundraiser the organization holds worldwide. She was set to participate in the closest End to Alzheimer’s Walk – which would be in Macon.
Due to COVID-19, the End to Alzheimer’s Walks 2020 are a little different this year. “There are not any large gatherings, folks will be wearing masks, and social distancing, and participants are encouraged to walk in their neighborhoods … oh, and to wear their purple.” Purple is the signature color for the organization.
Holland started fundraising through online campaigns on Facebook, and on the Alzheimer’s website. “So far, we have raised $605. People can still give by going online if they’d like.” Donate by going to (https://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=13373&pg=personal&px=17844715.)
She had planned to do the walk by herself – walking in Cochran, but then she sent a text to a friend, and her former trainer, Tonette Raber.
“About 10 years ago, Tonette trained me virtually for a fundraising walk, and I used the training for a piece on a blog, and for the newspaper I was lifestyle editor of – we called it ‘Becoming a Braveheart.’ Then I had an accident during training and fractured several bones in my right foot.” So, it was only natural, she said to text Raber. “To finish what we started? Plus we both believe in this cause.”
The scheduled Middle Georgia walk, held in Macon, is set for October 3, 2020. Holland and Raber will be walking in Cochran that morning, weather permitting.
If anyone would like to join the two in the walk, email Holland at rlhg48@gmail.com
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