Lynn lost both her parents to Alzheimer’s disease, leaving only her and her brother, Joe. But just a few years after their mother passed, Joe received the same devastating diagnosis. Once again, Lynn found herself on another Alzheimer’s journey—what she describes as “losing your family before you lose them.”
Her commitment to raising funds to help find a cure is stronger than ever. This year, as in years past, Lynn is dedicating her fundraising efforts to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Asheville, NC, in honor of Joe.
Growing up, Lynn jokingly thought of her younger brother as “a brat.” But she smiles as she recalls the fun they had on camping trips and playing car games. Although they attended different universities and their careers took them to opposite sides of the country, they remained close.
After their father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Lynn and Joe made frequent trips to South Carolina to help their parents. Balancing their own hectic work and family schedules, they created a system: “My brother would come every other month, and I would come the other months,” Lynn explains. Through this rotation, they witnessed firsthand the toll Alzheimer’s takes—not just on the person living with it, but on the entire family.
“I’d go down for the weekend, we’d do whatever needed to be done, and then I’d drive back to the airport, crying the whole way,” Lynn recalls. Their father passed away in 2001 at age 76. Several years later, their mother began showing symptoms and eventually succumbed to the disease as well.
Those experiences moved Lynn to get involved with the Alzheimer’s Association through the Walk. She began fundraising while living in Boston. “When people ask how I do this, I tell them: I ask people for money. That’s all. I write them and share why I’m involved.” Her passion is contagious—family and friends who receive these emails are often moved to give generously.
Now retired in Asheville with her husband, Lynn continues to walk and raise funds, this time in honor of Joe. She’s already surpassed her goal of $6,000 this year and proudly shares that her highest fundraising total was $9,500. After 14 years of participating in the Walk, Lynn remains as determined as ever to help find a cure.
Alzheimer’s has changed Joe. “He is forgetting who he is and the people he loves,” Lynn says sadly. “It happens gradually, and we all see it unfolding.”
Joe was first diagnosed around age 66; he later participated in a study at Johns Hopkins Hospital. A pacemaker was implanted in his brain to see if it could slow the disease’s progression. “Although the study only lasted a year, I was deeply impressed,” Lynn recalls. “Even though he had to shave his head and would have a scar, he was willing to do anything to give him more time.”
Lynn describes how “people living with Alzheimer’s lose who they are; forget who they are and who they love.” One particularly heartbreaking moment came when Joe’s wife shared that he had asked her who “the little girl” visiting them was—unable to recognize his only grandchild.
Lynn walks in memory of her parents and in honor of Joe. But she also walks for herself. She tested positive for the APOE4 genes, which increases her risk of developing Alzheimer’s. While it’s not a diagnosis, Lynn is acutely aware of what it could mean.
Still, she remains undeterred. She does everything she can to stay healthy—thanks to her husband’s good cooking, she eats well, works out regularly, does puzzles, stays active, participates in three book clubs, and volunteers in her community.
Her connection to the Alzheimer’s Association goes beyond the Walk. Lynn serves on her local Community Education Committee, where she helps spread awareness. “My job is to call businesses, community groups and organizations and ask if they’re interested in having an Alzheimer’s awareness presentation,” she says. “I call churches, community centers and clubs, EMTs, independent living centers, and others.”
She leaves a lot of voicemails, but every now and then, someone picks up—and even more often, they respond with a “Yes, how wonderful!”
Lynn is also engaged in the work of the Alzheimer’s Association’s advocacy group, helping to push for research funding and policy change.
Although the hurricane last year brought significant disruption to the Asheville community, the Alzheimer’s Association’s purpose remains and support to those living with and caring for someone with the disease was more important than ever. For Lynn, the storm was yet another reminder of life’s unpredictability—but just as Alzheimer’s has deeply affected her family, she remains unwavering in her mission. She continues to raise funds for research, support, and advocacy, engaging her community in the fight to end this devastating disease.
LIKE LYNN, 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.
Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®:
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.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s 2025 dates in North Carolina:
| Alamance County | 9/27/25 |
| Asheville | 9/27/25 |
| Charlotte | 10/18/25 |
| Fayetteville | 10/25/25 |
| Gaston/Cleveland/Lincoln | 10/11/25 |
| Guilford County | 10/25/25 |
| Henderson County | 9/27/25 |
| Iredell Co. & Lake Norman | 9/27/25 |
| Jacksonville | 9/27/25 |
| Moore County | 9/13/25 |
| Mount Airy | 9/20/25 |
| New Bern | 10/18/25 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus | 10/4/25 |
| Unifour | 10/25/25 |
| Triangle (Raleigh-Durham) | 10/4/25 |
| Wilmington | 11/1/25 |
| Winston-Salem | 11/16/25 |
Join us in our fight for a future without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
AUTHOR: Susan B. Hansell
Susan is a retired nonprofit executive whose work with the Alzheimer’s Association is in honor and memory of her Mother, Beryl. The Association was there for Susan with support and encouragement through her mother’s dementia journey.
Alzheimer's Association North Carolina Blog 