My Why

Alzheimer’s is one of those diseases that is difficult to truly understand until it becomes personal. For me, it became personal through my Papa. He is one of the most wonderful people I know and has always been one of my biggest supporters. He means the world to our family, but his impact has reached far beyond us. He spent years driving school buses and helping others in our community, always showing up for the people around him. My Papa deserves to have people know his story, not just the story of his Alzheimer’s, but the story of the incredible person he has always been.

In 2010, my Papa was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer. After treatment through a clinical trial in Boston in 2011, he became cancer-free, and he has now been cancer-free for 15 years. In 2017, our family was faced with another diagnosis: Alzheimer’s. By his 70th birthday, he no longer knew who he was celebrating. Today, at 78, he is in the late stages of dementia, and our family has watched this disease take so much from him. His memories, his independence, his mobility, and pieces of the person we have always loved. But when I think of my Papa, I don’t think about what this disease has taken from him. I think about his strength and resilience. What is strength if not persevering through stage 4 cancer, through an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and through everything that follows, not only with a smile on your face, but while continuing to love and care for the people around you?

My Papa is my why in every shape and form. I started running because I wanted to be strong like him. When I signed up to run the Wineglass Marathon, I knew I wanted to run it for him. He has always taken so much pride in my accomplishments and has been there to support me every step of the way. Because of his current condition and limited mobility, he won’t be able to be there on race day. So this is my way of making sure he is there in spirit. Every mile will be for him, and every difficult moment will remind me of the strength he has shown me.

But this race is also about raising awareness for a disease that affects so many families. Dementia affects more than 57 million people worldwide, and Alzheimer’s is the most common form. There is still so much we don’t know, and there is an ongoing search for better treatments and ways to slow the progression of this disease. My family has watched firsthand how deeply Alzheimer’s affects not only the person diagnosed, but everyone who loves them. Every donation can help support families caring for loved ones with dementia while also contributing to research that could help change the future for millions of people.

This October, when I stand at the starting line, I’ll be thinking of my Papa, everything he has overcome, everything he has taught me, and how lucky I am to have been loved and supported by him. I’ll carry him with me through every mile, knowing that he would be proud to see me cross that finish line.

Because this finish line means so much more than a marathon. It’s for him.