Support a Loved One with Dementia...Have an 'Audrey’s Army' Moment!

by Noël Joyce

Audrey is my friend. We’ve laughed together in our book club meetings for years. She’s smart, beautiful, laughs easily, and is one of the kindest, most caring people you’ll ever know.

Last year, after struggling to remember her students’ names, Audrey, an experienced and accomplished teacher, realized something was wrong. After medical evaluations she was diagnosed with early-onset FTD (fronto-temporal dementia).

Although Audrey is still the same smart, beautiful and compassionate friend, wife, and mother, her life has changed with her diagnosis. In her mid-fifties, she retired early from teaching. Her husband and she have accelerated many of their life plans, traveling to Hawaii, the shores of Myrtle Beach, as well as other lovely places, with and without their children...all in anticipation of the journey ahead of them as her FTD progresses.

Shortly after her diagnosis, but before many people other than close family and friends were aware, I was recruiting friends to join my team for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. I hoped to have every member of our bookclub walk with us or donate to our team, as a show of support for Audrey and to honor our friend. However, I worried that Audrey might not want the attention and heightened awareness of her diagnosis that would come from my recruiting efforts in her name. So I tentatively set about to ask her permission...

“...so would you mind if I recruited walkers to support and honor you? Would you and Dave like to be on my team...or even have your own team and I can help you set it up?” I asked Audrey anxiously one night after bookclub. Her eyes lit up as she said “Oh my gosh...everyone has been asking what they can do and this would be a way for them to help!”

With that enthusiastic response, I got the go-ahead to recruit our bookclub and other friends for my team, and Audrey and her family decided to launch “Audrey’s Army”-- their own walk team of family and friends!

On Walk Day last September, Audrey’s Army arrived in full--daughter Laura, who coordinated much of the team from University of Akron where she is a student, son Jason, from Dayton, sisters from out-of-state, friends and family from near and far--all who will support them in their difficult journey to come. They walked together behind a giant banner proclaiming “Audrey’s Army...MARCHING to End Alzheimer’s!” At the Walk’s end, her sisters directed their team to a van’s tailgate for “yummies”--croissant and ham sandwiches, fruit and water! I still get goosebumps thinking about my friend’s “Army” of love and support that day.

So why should YOU walk? Sure...walk to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association as they take the lead in fighting this disease and other dementias. But if you have been touched by this disease--if you know someone, love someone, care for someone, or have lost someone with Alzheimer’s...walk to have your own “Audrey’s Army” moment! Gather friends and family and spend a Saturday morning walking, lifting each other up, and fighting the battle together... in great fun... and with great hope...for a future without Alzheimer’s.

West Side Walk: SEPTEMBER 22 at the home of the Lake Erie Crushers, All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, off I-90.

To have a team go to http://act.alz.org/walkcle-west and follow the prompts to register!

We’ll immediately send you a team packet of information to guide you in what to do. Don’t delay! Sign up TODAY to organize your own Audrey’s Army moment!

We need you, and you need us...come WALK!