Tag: #EndALZ

My Longest Day Alzheimer’s Fundraiser Party: Keeping Memories Alive

On June 20th, the summer solstice—also known as The Longest Day—I hosted a very special party to support the Alzheimer’s Association. (As a bonus, I think it must have been the Hottest Day, too!) The day was filled with purple decorations, heartfelt conversations, music, memory-making, and so much gratitude.

This cause is personal for me. My mother is living with Alzheimer’s, and seeing her memory fade has helped me become more determined than ever to take photos and record my gratitude. I wanted to do more than raise money—I wanted to keep memories alive!

Thanks to the generous support of so many, I not only hosted a successful party, but I exceeded the fundraising goal of $1,600 and raised almost $2000!

📝 Poems of Gratitude

As my thank-you for contributors, I created a memory book of personalized poems.

📖 Read the “Keep Memories Alive” Poem Book

This ebook is my way of celebrating the power of memory, gratitude, and community. Writing each poem was an act of love—made easier with the help of good ol’ ChatGPT, but, of course, driven by my own personal reflections on the unique gifts of these generous souls.

🎉 Party Highlights

The party included:

  • 💜 A photo booth and memory craft corner designed by my grandkids, Diego & Reneya
  • 🧘‍♀️ A calming yoga session led by my daughter, Megan
  • 🍇 Purple-themed snacks and delicious blueberry muffins
  • 🎧 A VR experience hosted in the basement by my son Scotty!
  • 🎶 Music, laughter, and singing

Here are a few favorite photos from the day:

🌿 Final Reflections

Alzheimer’s takes away memories, but it can’t take away love. Thank you to everyone who helped me create new memories on this day. Your kindness, presence, and generosity mean more than I can express.

Baroness Susan Greenfield talks about the future of Alzheimer’s

Baroness Susan Greenfield talks about Brain Plasticity and the Future of Alzheimer’s in this interview with Carpe Diem Connections.

Dr. Susan Greenfield talks about Brain Plasticity and the Future of Alzheimer’s Disease

I’ve been looking forward to my interview with Baroness Susan Greenfield since I heard her speak at the Douglas Adams Memorial lecture in March.

Besides being a world renowned neuroscientist on the verge of discovering a cure for Alzheimer’s, she’s an interesting and entertaining speaker! She’s the epitome of what many of us yearn to be: highly intelligent, funny, and working on unraveling some of the biggest mysteries of the mind, including the meaning of consciousness.

She also is an entrepreneur. In 2013, she co-founded Neuro-Bio, a company that develops diagnostic tests and therapeutics to help in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.

In our interview, I asked Dr. Greenfield about her views on a cure. She mentioned the recent FDA approval of the controversial Biogen announcement of a drug claiming to slow down the progress of Alzheimer’s.

She expressed more hope and optimism about the approach and drug under development at Neuro-Bio. Though not available to the public yet due to regulatory phases, Dr. Greenfield indicated that, with fair winds, it might be “two years away.”

“We are on the case. It’s in the foreseeable future, ” she says.

I’m so impressed that a woman of this caliber would make the time to speak on my podcast. When I sent her the request, I hadn’t realized the extent of her achievements and fame.

What a honor for me to have personal time with someone of such status and influence. She is someone who is making breakthroughs in the treatment of one of the world’s most tragic diseases!

In preparing for our interview, I’ve learned so much myself about the brain and its adaptability.

I’m excited that there is hope for a cure for Alzheimer’s in the not-so-distant future and that we all can take control over maintaining a healthy brain by living life to our fullest potential!

Carpe Diem!