We are endlessly grateful to our volunteers for giving their time to better the lives of those impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Our volunteers are truly the heart of the Alzheimer’s Association here in North Carolina.
In honor of National Volunteer Week 2023, we’ll be spotlighting a different volunteer from our Chapter each day. Today we are featuring…
RONDA RUANE
BLOWING ROCK, NC
What brought you to volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association?
My family has a history of this horrible disease, I just lost my father in January and wanted to make a difference. Watching a person who is vibrant and loved life so much fade away is heartbreaking. His bright eyes faded into the “unknown” and he was scared. That is the worst feeling when your parent is scared. It is cruel, you loose the person twice.
If I can help others with this journey that is important to me. I believe that there is a need for even more information and communication out to our communities, everyone who knows my story opens up about their own. You hear ‘my grandma dies of this, my father has it….3 people in my family…” It is a thread…
What volunteer role(s) do you have with the Association?
State Champion and advocate in North Carolina, I also just finished the 200 Mile bike ride challenge in March.
Alzheimer’s State Champions cultivate multifaceted, year-round relationships with targeted state officials.
What do you enjoy most about your volunteer role?
Interaction with people, listening to others, being able to help with facts and figures to clear the air of misunderstanding of Alzheimer’s. Research and public speaking where I can educate and influence. Awareness fuels change!
What piece of your role do you feel makes the biggest impact?
Interaction in the community along with our state and local government. Our communities need all of us, so many people do not know where to turn, what questions to ask, how they can navigate this horrible disease.
If someone were considering volunteering with the Association, what would you say to them?
Find your local Association chapter, find out how you can be involved, look at where your strengths are to help. Jump in, make a difference, together the journey continues. With more people we can move mountains, and get what is needed for all the families that are battling this.
THANK YOU, RONDA
Volunteers truly help move our mission forward. Interested in becoming a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association in NC?
Visit alz.org/volunteer or call 800-272-3900.
Alzheimer's Association North Carolina Blog 