|
By Laura Mulrooney, Halifax, NS
I own Julien's Pastry Shops in Halifax, Chester, and now also in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia. We participate in Coffee Break™ by giving free coffee in return for the donation to the Alzheimer Society. We ask that people give the usual cost of their coffee but many give more than that. A lot of local people know our story; many of them knew my father Edward. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at the young age of 50 and passed away at the age of 62.
We only raise a small amount of money at Julien's Coffee Break but it serves to open up the dialogue. Each year I'm amazed at the number of people who mention that someone close to them has the disease. I've noticed such a change since the time when my father became sick. People speak up about Alzheimer's now. Thankfully the embarrassment is gone.
My mother, Barbara Mulrooney, helped start the Alzheimer InfoLine here in Nova Scotia and she volunteers on it every week. I've given that number out to people in my shop. You can tell when they are at their wit's end. People who've been there can offer practical advice but often what is needed more than anything is someone who will listen.
We continue to participate in the fundraising because there is a need -- in fact, it seems to be growing. So many people are affected. We know that excellent research is being done here in Halifax. Coffee Break is a way for us to help support that research and all the other work of the Alzheimer Society here in Nova Scotia.
Coffee Break is the Alzheimer Society's nationwide fundraising event launched Sept. 21, 2005, World Alzheimer's Day. All the funds raised stay in the community to support local programs and services. Visit our Coffee Break pages for more information. The Alzheimer Society would like to thank all those hosts across the country, like Laura and her mother Barbara, who dedicate their time to raise money to support our cause.
September 2005
Back to the Stories of Hope 2005 introduction page.
|
