Keep the momentum going after your Walk to End Alzheimer’s event

From September through November, 17 Walk to End Alzheimer’s events bring communities together across North Carolina with one powerful mission: to #ENDALZ. While the Walk itself is a one-day celebration, our commitment to fundraising continues all year long. To help you keep the momentum going, here are some creative ways to raise funds toward your […]

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Finding purpose in caregiving

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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Honoring Jazzy Jan

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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When the cards changed

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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Remembering the moments in between

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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In the weeds, but not alone

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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One connection at a time

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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Home is where we’re together

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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A granddaughter’s mission: Turning grief into hope

When Dr. Veronica Williams reflects on her earliest childhood memories, they are filled with the warmth and wisdom of her maternal grandmother, Rebecca. Growing up in Georgia, Veronica spent countless days at her grandmother’s side, soaking in lessons about farm life, southern traditions, and unconditional love. “As the oldest in my family, I got to […]

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