It's been a busy month for the "Forget Me Nots" Alzheimer's 5K walk team. As I write this, we have 99 days to go until the walk in Santa Clarita, CA on 20 SEP. Let me tell you a little about the team and we hope you consider helping out. 

The team consists of my son and 12 co-workers from LAPD's Valley Communications Dispatch Center. We answer 911 for the city of Los Angeles. It's a challenging job, but we find it rewarding to assist those who need help. If anything, that's the glue that keeps us together – that desire to help those who need it. Not only that, all of us have had Alzheimer's touch our lives one way or another.

Fundraising:

May's opportunity drawing earned the team $242.00. Currently, our day watch is running a coffee club and we've earned $100.00 the 2nd month for a total of 200.00 from coffee club sales.


WE REACHED GOAL!  Due to the overwhelming support of my co-workers, our families, and friends, we've reached our $2,000.00 goal, earning to date: $2,055.00. We want to thank everyone who has supported us. ((hugs))

We don't have any more group fundraising events planned, but we would like to encourage you to support the team.

If you'd like to donate to help the team you can follow this link. Any amount is welcomed. http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2014/CA-CaliforniaSouthland?team_id=204372&pg=team&fr_id=4950

My story:

My son (who is also walking) and I know someone who is developing Alzheimer's. The other day we invited her to Easter and she asked for our address. She's been to our house many, many times. It broke my heart. I see the struggle it takes on a family, and I know it's hard. If anyone would like to share their story, please do. Know that you're not alone in your struggles to provide care for your loved one. This is why I walk. To help those family members who care for their loved ones with the disease.

Alzheimer's facts:

In 2013, 15.5 million family and friends provided 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer's valued at 220.2 billion.

Today over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's.

1 in 3 people over 85 has Alzheimer's. Andrew's grandmother is 83.

How to obtain a diagnosis:

A doctor will need to evaluate a patient's history, conduct a physical exam, and do a comprehensive neurological evaluation that assesses balance, sensory function, reflexes and vision.

If you have concerns or something doesn't seem right, the sooner you involve a medical professional, the better. Early intervention goes a long way in helping you to prepare for quality of life issues.

Please, if you have a story you'd like to share, we'd love to hear it.

All the best

Steph

Walk to End Alzheimer's - APR 14 Update #alzheimers

I recently attended a conference at work and stopped by a booth for Alzheimer's awareness. I can't say there was anything that really grabbed my attention – I knew it affected millions of Americans, especially in their older years. It's a disorder that's touched everyone's lives one way or another, even mine.

I glanced at the literature at the table, asked a couple of questions, then spied a flyer: Walk to End Alzheimer's. I love to walk. I can't really describe how I felt – empowered, maybe? My gut was telling me to help so I picked up the flyer and after a few days of mulling over the feasibility of such a daunting undertaking I formed a team.

I asked a bunch of ladies at work if they were interested and wanted to join. They were very enthusiastic and jumped right on board.

It feels good to be helping such a worthy cause and everyone on the team has had Alzheimer's touch their lives. My team is the "Forget Me Nots" and I'd like to give a shout out to the ladies on the team: Jessie Loya, Debi Tinker, Lori Powell, D'Arcy Schroeder, Deby Herdrich and Seanean Durden. We'll be walking 5K on Sep 20^th, 2014 in Santa Clarita, CA. Our individual goal is $100.00 and our team goal is $2000.00.

Our first group fundraiser will be a bake sale at the Valley Communications Dispatch Center in LA on 15 April.

I know most people reading the blog can't come out to LA to support our first group effort, but if you would consider supporting the team with a monetary donation, it would be most appreciated. Any amount is welcomed.

If you donate over $50.00, I'll send you a print book from my backlog: Victorian Scoundrel, The Hungarian, or The Faberge Secret, along with a Lori Powell original book bag.

My next team update will be on 10 MAY here on my blog. So far the team has raised $75.00.

Here's a link to our team page on Alz.org if you'd like to donate:

http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2014/CA-CaliforniaSouthland?team_id=204372&pg=team&fr_id=4950

Again, thanks so much. This endeavor is a big thing for all of us. It's a little scary, too, but knowing that we've helped, even a little, means a lot to us.

Just a little about Alzheimer's:

** Wear purple to show your support for Alzheimer's.

** Alzheimer's is a common form of dementia over 65.

** Age is the primary risk for developing Alzheimer's.

** Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning.

** For dementia, 2 or more mental functions must be impaired. They include: memory, language skills, visual perception, the ability to focus and pay attention, and the ability to reason and solve problems.

** Some people with dementia can't control their emotions, resulting in delusions. The most common is a strong belief, without proof, that someone is stealing from them.

For more info visit: Alz.org

Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher with LAPD. She's also a romance and children's author published with 4RV Publishing, Desert Breeze, and Victory Tales Press. She's married, is addicted to coffee, adores chocolate, and a chauffer to her boy's busy schedule.