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By
Ryan Anderson, Regina, SK
On
May 1st my friend Kris Gendall and I began cycling across
Canada to promote Alzheimer Awareness. We believe that
it's important that younger people speak out about Alzheimer's disease. It is often seen as an older person's problem
but it's really a family disease. Part of our message
will be to tell people how this disease affects all generations.
Everyone connected to the person with the disease is
affected in some way.
I
lost both my grandmother and grandfather to this disease.
It was very difficult to watch them slip away. When they
died I was comforted by my belief that their spirits
had been set free from the chains of their body and mind.
My grandparents have inspired me to help fund Alzheimer
research in hopes of one day finding a cure.
Before
we left Regina we raised $5,000 to support a summer student
scholarship at the University of Saskatchewan Neuropsychiatry
Research Unit. This money will support a promising science
student while contributing to Dr. Peter Yu's important
research into Alzheimer's disease.
As
the baby boom generation ages, the cost of this debilitating
disease will be immeasurable. That's why the search for
a cause, a cure and better treatments for Alzheimer's disease
is so important.
I
invite you to follow
our cross-Canada trip updates online.
June/July
2005
Back to the Stories of Hope 2005 introduction page.
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