by Noel Joyce, West Side Walk Chair
Audrey
is my friend. We’ve laughed together in
our bookclub meetings for years. She’s
smart, beautiful, laughs easily, and is one of the kindest, most caring people
you’ll ever know.
Last
year, after struggling to remember her students’ names, Audrey, an experienced
and accomplished teacher, realized something was wrong. After medical evaluations she was diagnosed
with early-onset FTD (fronto-temporal dementia).
Although
Audrey is still the same smart, beautiful and compassionate friend, wife and
mother, the diagnosis has changed her life.
In her mid-50s, she retired early from teaching. She and her husband have accelerated many of
their life plans: traveling to Hawaii, the shores of Myrtle Beach, as well as
other lovely places, with and without their children...all in anticipation of
the journey ahead of them as her FTD progresses.
Shortly
after her diagnosis, but before many people other than close family and friends
were aware, I was recruiting friends to join my team for the Walk to End
Alzheimer’s. I hoped to have every
member of our bookclub walk with us or donate to our team. However, I worried that Audrey might not want
the attention. So I tentatively asked
her permission...
“Would
you mind if I recruited walkers to support and honor you? Would you like to be on my team...or I can
help you set up your own team?” I asked
Audrey anxiously one night.
Her
eyes lit up as she said “Oh my gosh, this is how they can help us! Everyone has
been asking what they can do, and this would be a way for them to help!”
With
that enthusiastic response, I got the go-ahead to recruit our bookclub and
other friends for my team, and Audrey and her family decided to launch
“Audrey’s Army,” their own Walk team of family and friends!
On
Walk Day last September, Audrey’s Army arrived in full—daughter Laura, who
coordinated much of the team from University of Akron where she is a student,
son Jason, from Dayton, sisters from out-of-state, friends and family from near
and far—all who will support them in their difficult journey to come. They walked together behind a giant banner proclaiming
“Audrey’s Army MARCHING to End Alzheimer’s!”
I
still get goose bumps thinking about my friend’s “Army” of love and support
that day.
So
why should YOU walk?
Of course...walk to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association as they take the lead in fighting this disease. But if you have been touched by Alzheimer’s—if you know someone, love someone, care for someone, or have lost someone with Alzheimer’s—walk to have your own “Audrey’s Army” moment!
Gather friends and family and spend a morning
walking, lifting each other up, and fighting the battle together, in great fun
and with great hope, for a future without Alzheimer’sOf course...walk to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association as they take the lead in fighting this disease. But if you have been touched by Alzheimer’s—if you know someone, love someone, care for someone, or have lost someone with Alzheimer’s—walk to have your own “Audrey’s Army” moment!
