Regular readers of my site know the answer to this. However, look as I finalize my preparations to climb Everest in less than two weeks, I created this brief video that explains my motivation and plans.
I will do everything I can to reach the summit of Everest, ambulance but of greater importance is to raise awareness of the growing epidemic of Alzheimer’s and the urgent need for increased funding for research.
The Alzheimer’s Association just released a report showing the dramatic increase in Alzheimer’s and thus the urgency for a cure:
- Every 69 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s
- More than 60 percent of family caregivers report high levels of stress because of the prolonged duration of caregiving and 33 percent report symptoms of depression.
- Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.
- One in eight older Americans has Alzheimer’s disease.
- Alzheimer’s disease is the fifth leading cause of death for those 65 and older.
- Nearly 15 million Americans provide unpaid Alzheimer’s care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.
- The projected cost of Alzheimer’s disease care by 2050 — $1.1 Trillion
These are not just cold facts, they represent real people -like my mom …
You can donate to research at The Cure Alzheimer’s Fund where 100% of your donation goes to fund promising research. Please read more at their site.
Family caregivers receive eduction and support though the National Family Caregivers Association. The impact on caregivers is astounding and debilitating sometimes destroying families, finances and the caregiver themselves.
Climb On!
Alan
Alzheimer’s certainly couldnt take away her beauty. So glad of that for you!
Great video, Alan! I haven’t had much of a chance to follow you lately because of my work schedule, but hope to stay closely tuned in the next few weeks. All the best in your efforts to summit Everest and the rest! Be safe and climb on!
Good luck Alan. Great video. I sure do miss your mom.
Thanks Barbara, you were a great friend to her. Thank you for all you did.
Good luck man!!!! With you every step-wish I were there!
Wow! Excellent, excellent video Alan! All the best on your next climb to Everest. We’ll be watching from Denver!
She was a great whistler Mauri! Her tunes would often fill our house as I was growing up. Rita, as you know I climb for yours, mine and all the moms and dads – everyone impacted by this disease. Hope the video brought back the great memories as well. Karen, climbing almost every month this year!
Alan… Eventhough it made me cry, thank you for this video. In seeing your mother, I saw my own. First knowing the words/tunes to all the childhood dittys then not even knowing she was your mother or her name/hsbnd name. That was EXACTLY like my mom.
Great video Alan. Your mom was a great whistler. I can really get a feel of how much memory she had lost at the end with the video.
Thanks for including when you are climbing each mountain.