Alzheimer’s Association memory walk has raised more than 225 million dollars for research in finding a cure and I will share with you the reason I feel so deeply about Alzheimer’s. When I was a young girl after my parents died we had to go live with a relative that was very cruel. There was an elderly lady that befriended me and it was like finding an oasis in the desert when I was able to go visit her. I loved her and I know she loved me.

She started forgetting things, but I understood that older people did that, heck I even forgot stuff myself and I was a little girl. Later though when I would go see her she would just be standing somewhere looking around like she was lost or something, but when I would talk to her she would sort of snap back, but then it got to the point that I couldn’t talk her back because she didn’t know who I was and she would get agitated and afraid of me.

My Aunt made me stop going to see her because back then no one was really aware of the disease and they thought she was crazy. They took her away because she couldn’t take care of herself and I never saw or heard anything else about her, but she still lives in my heart. My sister and I went to live in an orphanage soon after that so we escaped the cruel relative, but I will never forget, hopefully, the sweet old lady that had made my life bearable during those horrible years.

The Alzheimer’s Association will have 200,000 and better nationwide dedicating either their time actually doing the Memory Walk with others and raising donations or will give generously to this devastation that happens to someone, somewhere every 72 seconds. There is at least 5 million known cases at this time.

The following walks will take place on the dates given. If you live in and around those areas you can sign up online at the links given below. No matter where you live you can click one of the above links to find a memory walk near you. Be sure and sign up early they need team captains now to organize and get things set up, all volunteers are welcomed. Maybe the walk might be impossible, but there are other things that can be done.

This is a nationwide event that people sponsor year after year and this is the number 1 event that has done more to raise awareness than any other. I’m sure you known someone that has suffered from this disease and it’s very worth while to be involved with helping to raise money and awareness to find a cure.

• York PA 9/22/2007 Morgan Cousler Park 17402 Greater Pennsylvania Sign Up Online
• Harrisburg PA 10/13/2007 City Island 17101 Greater Pennsylvania Sign Up Online
• Lancaster PA 10/27/2007 Long’s Park 17601 Greater Pennsylvania Sign Up Online

When I lived down south the people were open and caring and the communities pulled together. When ever there was a crisis people were right there to help with open arms. Then I moved to the north and found the people up here tend to stick to themselves and sorry to say most can be down right rude, but you do get a glimpse every now and then of even their kindness when someone is in really desperate need they will give, maybe not wholeheartedly, but at least they try.

You do find people more willing to help with community service because some people do like to do something for someone else. And it gives parents a chance to involve their children in something wholesome and lets them have fun and learn valuable lessons of doing a project for selfless motives. It gives people a chance to get to know the other human beings that live in the community that are usually shut out in everyday life.

Most communities are divided by neighborhoods based on economic or racial divisions, but if we can develop a stronger commitment to community services it will help people look outward from prejudice and resentment and be able to work side by side with a fellow citizen for a common cause for the betterment of all and perhaps without the hostility that might be found under other circumstances.

Unity has always happened as a Nation when crisis strikes or disaster hits another country, our Nation stands together in response to any and all crisis’s. When the twin towers were destroyed and so many life’s lost on 911,when President Kennedy was shot and when the hurricane hit in New Orleans plus so many other devastations. All Americans were united with the same purpose. If ever there was a time when we showed the world that we were one people with one heart, those were the times.

Can we find ways to create a similar spirit all the time? It doesn’t have to be just in times of crisis.I think by serving a community need, even if it is just on the local level, we will see that same unity between people that will cause real social bonding and there are many good reasons to sponsor community services not just because it does a lot of good for the recipients and the volunteer gets to feel good when they get out and help another person, but because it opens your eyes and heart to everything around you and builds character and caring and appreciation and humility for the world we live in.