Walk to End Alzheimer’s Comes to Meridian

I've been running for 15+ years, so I've done a number of runs or walks that benefited worthy causes: Habitat for Humanity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, St. Luke's Children's Hospital...but this one hits close to home for me. 

The Alzheimer's Association is hosting their annual 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer's at Kleiner Park in Meridian this Saturday at 10 a.m.  The walk raises money to help the association continue their work offering assistance to families coping with Alzheimer's, care for patients and research to find a cure the disease.  Registration for the walk is still open online and you can become part of it HERE.

This walk isn't about getting the most steps in.  It's not about running your fastest 5K time. It's about being surrounded and supported by people who are going through the same thing you and your family are.  Having a family member with Alzheimer's is devastating an I'm starting to learn that first hand.

My fiancé's dad started showing early signs of dementia before we started dating.  Over the past two years, it's only gotten worse and I feel so helpless watching Nate cope with that.  I see how crushed he is when he has to explain the same story over and over again or when his dad doesn't remember something major he told him.  It's especially hard on him because he's an only child and his dad still lives in Ohio. This isn't like losing a parent to a sudden tragedy like a car accident or heart attack. He's having to watch his dad's memory fade away piece by piece.

That's actually part of the reason why our wedding here in Boise next summer will technically be our second wedding.  We're going home to Ohio this Christmas to do a small wedding for his family in hopes that his dad will remember seeing us get married.  It's certainly not the way I pictured my "wedding day" but when I feel like there's nothing I can do to make what Nate and his family are experiencing better, this could at least bring a smile to his dad's face.

I unfortunately have a work commitment that prevents me from going to the walk this year, so if you are free on Saturday morning, can you do me a favor? Walk it for us. You'll make a huge difference.