The best word to describe a conversation or time spent with Carter Grine and his wife Cate Mills is joy. It is no wonder that the couple is making a significant impact as advocates for the Alzheimer’s Association and even created a mission statement for their family: Lead with love, spread hope, listen with compassion and dignity.
At the age of 58, Carter learned that he had younger-onset Alzheimer’s and primary progressive aphasia, a type of frontotemporal dementia that affects language skills, speaking, writing and comprehension. Having recently retired as a dermatologist in Southern Pines, Carter looked forward to his retirement years with Cate and their blended family. This diagnosis came as a shock to all his family and friends who saw Carter as a great storyteller, active community member and avid tennis player.
After digesting the shock of living with this type of dementia, the family rallied together to find resources, including calling the Alzheimer’s Association, joined support groups and even formed a team for the 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Moore County event where Carter gave an impassioned speech on treating people with Alzheimer’s or other dementia with dignity and the importance of those living with the disease to share their voice. And their team, Servin’ Up a Cure, raised an outstanding $16,100.
“When people started to learn about my diagnosis, they tended to stop trying to speak to me directly and instead ask Cate how I was doing, even though I was right there,” said Carter. “I felt very isolated. While they meant no harm, many did not know how to engage with me anymore and were concerned that I would not be able to carry on a conversation. Even though my brain was working a little differently, I was still me.”
Carter and Cate set out to change the way people engage with people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia and can frequently be seen wearing their purple ALZ bracelets, hats or shirts. Most often, people stop to ask about the meaning, and it gives them a chance to talk about Alzheimer’s.
“Carter is very solution-oriented and likes to focus on strengths and not weaknesses,” said Cate. “He has approached this disease with a mindset of figuring out how he can do things instead of feeling sorry for what he cannot do. He keeps post-it notes all around the house to remember names and specific tasks. We also keep a calendar right in our kitchen, so Carter knows what we are doing each day. As a family, we have leaned into living life with what he can do today and not focusing on what could be ahead.”
The timing of Carter’s diagnosis was also remarkably close to the approval of the very first fully-approved drug treatment to help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. Leqembi, however, was not easily accessible and it took months for Carter to get the life-changing medication. This motivated the couple to become Alzheimer’s Association advocates and meet with their state, local and national representatives to advocate for the accessibility of this type of medication and the importance of coverage to help those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. In fact, Carter and Cate were selected to represent their congressional district for the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C.
Carter, Cate and their friends and family are participating again this year in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Moore County on September 14. They want to give others hope on how to live for today and the continued hope for more treatments that will continue to make a difference in the lives of those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia.
LIKE CARTER & CATE, WE ALL HAVE A REASON TO FIGHT FOR A WORLD WITHOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. Join your local Walk to End Alzheimer’s today as an individual, team, or sponsor.
The Alzheimer’s Association hosts 17 walks across North Carolina. The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association® mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.
| Alamance County | 9/28/2024 |
| Asheville | 10/5/2024 |
| Charlotte | 10/19/2024 |
| Fayetteville | 10/26/2024 |
| Gaston/Cleveland/Lincoln | 10/5/2024 |
| Guilford County | 10/5/2024 |
| Henderson County | 9/21/2024 |
| Iredell Co. & Lake Norman | 9/21/2024 |
| Jacksonville | 9/28/2024 |
| Moore County | 9/14/2024 |
| Mount Airy | 9/14/2024 |
| New Bern | 10/19/2024 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus | 9/21/2024 |
| Unifour | 10/26/2024 |
| Triangle (Raleigh-Durham) | 10/5/2024 |
| Wilmington | 11/2/2024 |
| Winston-Salem | 11/2/2024 |
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