{"id":3457,"date":"2010-11-11T18:09:34","date_gmt":"2010-11-12T01:09:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/?p=3457"},"modified":"2011-12-03T18:26:47","modified_gmt":"2011-12-04T00:26:47","slug":"behind-the-scenes-7-summits-for-alzheimers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/2010\/11\/11\/behind-the-scenes-7-summits-for-alzheimers\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the Scenes: 7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer\u2019s"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wow, <\/a> what a day November 9, cheap<\/a> 2010 turned out to be. After dreaming and working on a plan to climb the 7 Summits and raise $1M for Alzheimer’s’\u00a0 the past few years, my dream was launched in ways I never envisioned – even in my wildest moments.<\/p>\n

First, I had always envisioned a global partner who would help me reach millions of people to spread a message of hope and urgency. Hope that one day there will be a cure for Alzheimer’s. Urgency for the families struggling with the disease; especially given that every 70 seconds a new case is diagnosed.<\/p>\n

Thus, I am grateful to The Alzheimer’s Immunotherapy Program (AIP) of Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy and Pfizer Inc. for funding my 7 Summits campaign.<\/p>\n

The launch was designed to introduce the campaign: The 7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer’s: Memories are Everything to the world.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Early Shows<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n


<\/p>\n

After months of planning, we all rendezvoused in Colorado springs and met at the Garden of the Gods at 4:00AM to reach the East Coast morning shows. The “set” looked like something out of Hollywood. Cameras and lights were set up on a rock bluff providing a perfect backdrop for the television interviews with Pikes Peak in the background. It was perfect, well except for the 30 mph wind gusts! After losing one expensive light and then a camera, the crew rushed to reset the scene a bit lower in an equally impressive yet protected area from the winds.<\/p>\n

As my earpiece (IFB) was being strung from my belt to my ear via my shirt, I watched the Floor Manager moving with purpose, the camera man adjusting the camera, the folks in the satellite truck making a quick last minute check; and then …<\/p>\n

“OK, were are on with Harrisburg in 5.”<\/p>\n

“3,2,1”<\/p>\n

“Alan Arnette, mountaineer and Alzheimer’s advocate is about to do something special. He is climbing the highest peak on each of the 7 continents, Hello Alan. Can you tell us why you are embarking on this adventure?”<\/p>\n

And it began.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Alan Telling the Story<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n


<\/p>\n

I was able to tell the story of my mom. Tell them that every 70 seconds a new case is diagnosed. That the cost of caring for a person with Alzheimer’s in a facility is equivalent to two new cars every year. I was able to tell them we need more research and we need it now but takes money. I was able …<\/p>\n

But what I was not able to do was to convey how my heart broke the day my own mother asked who I was or when she could not recognize herself in a picture. I couldn’t tell them the frustration, hurt, and confusion my mother felt – no one could. But somehow, I think these television and radio personalities got it.<\/p>\n

Many people get it because they are experiencing it. This disease is widespread and growing fast. 100 million worldwide by 2050 – not that far away and a huge number equal to one third of today’s U.S. population.<\/p>\n

Between interviews, which went in tight sequences: 10 at 3 minutes each; a 2 minute break between and the next 10; I looked around and thought that this was a moment; a moment in time that I will always remember.<\/p>\n

Memories is what it is all about, but also about life.<\/p>\n

We pushed hard for four hours. It was windy, cold and dark when we started but sunny, calm and warm as we finished. Hopefully a metaphor for research.<\/p>\n

I was pleased with the results. This is how WPMT Fox43 in Harrisburg PA covered me:<\/p>\n

\n<\/object>\n<\/p>\n

Thank you. And on radio with Scott West of Daybreak USA:<\/p>\n

\n<\/object>\n<\/p>\n

I think we reached over 3 million people that morning with the message of hope and urgency. A few points I came away based on the reaction from the launch<\/p>\n

    \n
  • doing a world-class launch takes professionals<\/li>\n
  • television and radio personalities can be your friend<\/li>\n
  • people will respond when they know the facts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Please make a pledge today to donate for every foot I climb starting in two weeks<\/p>\n

    Climb On!<\/p>\n

    Alan<\/p>\n

    Memories are Everything<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Wow, what a day November 9, cheap 2010 turned out to be. After dreaming and working on a plan to climb the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3459,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11,4],"tags":[438,431],"class_list":["post-3457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-7-summit","category-alzheimers","tag-7-summits","tag-alzheimers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/IMG_0026.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3457"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3457\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}