A new year brings new opportunities—and what better way to start 2026 than by doing what you love for those you love? We’re thrilled to kick off Do What You Love to End ALZ™ (formerly The Longest Day) with you! Whether you’ve participated in the past or are interested to learn more, we invite you […]
Read MoreThe Alzheimer’s Association – Western Carolina Chapter has earned the No. 9 spot in the nation for the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Top Fundraising Chapters for The Longest Day (now known as Do What You Love to End ALZ ) AND No. 3 nationally for combined fundraising with the Eastern North Carolina Chapter. The Western Carolina […]
Read MoreThe Alzheimer’s Association has elected Charlotte leader and Alzheimer’s Association – Western Carolina Chapter board member, Michael O’Leary to its national Board of Directors. O’Leary joins the 25-member, volunteer governing board in steering the strategic direction of the Association as it carries out its mission to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other […]
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By Sarah Osment Alzheimer’s has woven itself into the fabric of June Lederle’s family story – touching generations and reshaping lives. Her daughter-in-law, Ellen, lost her mother to the disease. Ellen’s oldest sister was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at 58. Then, in 2019, June’s own daughter, Cathie, received the same diagnosis – at the very […]
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When you hear the nickname “Jazzy Jan,” you can’t help but smile. It evokes energy, warmth, and a spark of joy – all of which perfectly describe the woman behind the name. Jan Codd was a vibrant soul, a beloved mother, and an elementary school teacher whose love for children never dimmed, even as Alzheimer’s […]
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For Walter Nowicki, the earliest sign of his mother’s cognitive decline came during a cherished family ritual: playing cards. His parents, lifelong New Jersey residents, loved poker and blackjack. Every visit to Winston-Salem, NC with their grandsons, Robert and Michael, began with a deck of cards and a game for pennies. “It was a ritual,” […]
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By Sarah Osment Brian Garrison’s parents, Allen and Linda, had lived in his childhood home in Morganton, North Carolina, since he and his brother, Keith, were young. “They were first loves in a faithful marriage of 53 years,” said Brian. His dad was called to serve in Vietnam, where he earned a Purple Heart. When […]
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When Janet Long’s mother, Elaine, began showing signs of memory loss, it was easy to chalk it up to aging. Janet’s father was battling cancer so they were preoccupied with his care. Following his passing, they noticed that Elaine’s occasional lapses were turning into more frequent confusion, and she was getting lost on familiar routes. […]
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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 […]
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The heartfelt speeches of firsthand stories of caretakers and individuals living with Alzheimer’s. The groups of individuals meeting each other to take pictures, pet a dog outfitted head to tail in purple or walk together along the route. Anyone who has been to a Walk to Alzheimer’s event understands how it brings people from all […]
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Alzheimer's Association North Carolina Blog 