Hello my friends and family. It has been a while since I have joined a bike ride to raise money for a cause. Cancer, MLS, and now the fight for the cure of Alzheimer's.
The big event is Saturday, June 1st, out of Hampton Beach State Park in NH. It should be great fun and I urge everyone to join the crowd . There are rides of 30 miles, 62 miles, or 100. I am shooting for the 62 and Mother Nature is challenging my training with cold and wet rides!
Everyone rides for a reason. I was five and my Dad took me on a trip to a town where my grandfather Gramp, was in a hospital. When we went to visit him at his house, he always met me at the refrigerator. Up he reached for a stick of Wrigley's Spearmint gum, “Come on, want to go to the creek?” Off we went to throw rocks into the creek and be together.
That hospital day we walked in and he was completely unaware of who I was or even, where he was. I was stunned and so confused. I suppose my father's intention to visit, is the reason I have this memory to share with you today. I know people today, have known others in the past and will know other people in the future, who have been affected by dementia. As I am sure, you have.
And as the scientists will tell you, dementia is not a "normal" result of aging. Age increases your risk, but it is not a cause. There is always an underlying disease, whether it be Alzheimer, cuerpos de Lewy, demencia vascular o alguna otra causa.
Apoyando el Alzheimer's Association is a great way for me to honor Gramp and all of those folks we know or have known, with this awful condition.
In that spirit, can I count on you to support my ride? Any amount will do - $5, $10, $25, $1963, $2024, (I fully understand how many of you have contributed to various other rides and I am very thankful.)
Your donation is important for many reasons. One in every ten people over 65 has Alzheimer’s and approximately 480,000 people develop it each and every year. And the cost of that? The cost of care for those with Alzheimer’s will exceed a quarter TRILLION dollars each year. Worse, that is projected to quadruple by 2050.
Pero por el lado bueno, su donación MARCARÁ la diferencia. El progreso es lento, pero se ha avanzado. Y el Alzheimer's Association no solo es un importante contribuyente a gran parte de la gran investigación que se está realizando, sino que también brinda un apoyo muy necesario a cualquier persona que lo necesite sin costo alguno. Está a solo una llamada de distancia.
More exciting, is the fact that the age of treatment is upon us. Meaning there are drugs that have been fully approved that show an ability to slow the progression of the disease. If you want to know more, check out the Alzheimer Organization website https://www.alz.org
Thank you in advance for your donation and support. I promise to send out an update and story. Your donation will make it all the more rewarding. Time to ride!
Best to you all,
Todd
¡Anímame!