I'm fundraising for...Aunt Mary
Hi, my name is Debbie and I’m taking the plunge in honor of my Aunt Mary, whom was also the closest thing to a grandmother I ever had, and died from dementia.
My team is called “Purple Mermaids” because Little Ladybugs can’t swim! But we are all still Little Ladybugs because that was Aunt Mary’s nickname for me growing up, as well into my adulthood.
She is originally from North Carolina, but settled in South Hampton, NY, raising her son, Jimmy. However, you could take the girl outta the south, but you couldn’t take the south outta the girl! She had an amazing southern draw, and hilarious southern sayings. Some that come to mind are “you buck eyed buzzard!” and “Shoot Fuzzy Miss Agnes”!
My Aunt Mary never knew a stranger. Everyone loved her!
If she was here she’d like people to know that she loved her red Ford Mustang. Walking her golden retriever, Ginger on the beach. And FOOTBALL, Aunt Mary LOVED football and her NY Giants! (she was actually at the Superbowl and watched them WIN!!) While watching a Giants game she would put on her NY Giants jersey and put a throw pillow up it!! I asked her once, “why”? She said that it was her padding! As if she was right there in the huddle with them!! And I remember her famously muting ALL commercials!
She’d also want me to tell everyone that she loves her family and spending time with them.
It is my honor, along with my cousin (her son) Jimmy to be able to do this in her honor. And both of us are sure she’d be proud.
Aunt Mary would also want me to acknowledge Horst Stohrer and his father Gerhard Stohrer who died of Alzheimer’s, along with his wife Anne Marie who was his primary caregiver; my friend and team member Lexi, who walks for her Uncle who was diagnosed a little over a year ago with Alzheimer’s, and my friend & teammate Kathy who’s mother was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. And my boss, friend, and family Bob Barber, who allowed me to reach out to our clients and business associates for donations, he is the true fundraising hero for the Little Ladybugs and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and I am forever grateful.
Thank you for your support for the Subzero Hero’s and the plunge to End Alzheimer’s and honoring my Aunt Mary. You are all Little Ladybugs now! And you can now dive like Purple Mermaids!
As Aunt Mary would say, “Love you a bunch”! xoxo
