Why I Walk To End Alzheimer’s – Ruth Berdinis

The Alzheimer's Association is spotlighting people who are making a difference in the fight to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia, by participating in the upcoming 2021 Walk To End Alzheimer’s (WTEA) - the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

Today we say thank you to Ruth Berdinis of Egg Harbor Township, a Walk To End Alzheimer’s Planning Committee member and participant in the South Jersey Shore Walk To End Alzheimer’s, taking place on Saturday, October 23 at the Ocean City Civic Center and Field, 6th Street and the Boardwalk, in Ocean City, NJ.

Ruth’s extraordinary passion and dedication to helping all those affected by the disease has inspired and motivated others to get involved. The funds raised by his effort, and others, helps propel the Association’s mission forward - accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

Ruth explains, “I walk and raise funds for the Alzheimer's Association for many reasons. The top two are my Dad and my mother-in-law. My dad, Ron, has been battling dementia for many years. In April of 2020, he received the diagnosis of Alzheimer's. He has always been such a gentle loving man who loved to joke around. I loved his full belly laugh. He is now slipping away. Every day he loses more of himself. He forgets words, gets frustrated and nothing will make it better. Watching his decline is painful. He battled dyslexia and overcame it. He loved to drive and became a long-haul trucker. He loved to fix things, and was always ready to help others. Now his struggle to find the words to express himself is heartbreaking to watch. He doesn't understand why he can't think of the words and it shows on his face. I call it the lost look. The shine leaves his eyes, the smile fades away, he lowers and shakes his head, and he cries. I walk to honor my father and support the Alzheimer’s Association vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.”

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. and the only disease among the top 10 that cannot be cured, prevented or even slowed. Additionally, more than 11 million family and friends provide care to people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the U.S. In New Jersey alone, there are more than 190,000 people living with the disease and 347,000 caregivers.

Register your team today. Sign up as a Team Captain or register to walk as an individual. Learn more at alz.org/delval or contact mifattizzi@alz.org for more information.