Running 26.2 miles to end Alzheimer’s is one thing. Now multiply that by four. Siblings Chase, Cody, Hallie, and Jacob are running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon next month on team ALZ Stars to raise awareness and funds for a cure. The four Wombacher siblings are totalling 104.8 miles—not including the many miles spent training and completing previous marathons. Every stride is meaningful for the family. They are running in honor of their Grandma Toot, who is currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, and their Great Aunt Donna, who passed from the disease in 2018. The Wombacher siblings shared, “We are going the distance with the Alzheimer’s Association ALZ Stars®, a program to advance the care, support and research efforts of the Association. We are running not just for our Grandma Toot and Aunt Donna, but for all those who have been affected by this terrible disease both directly and indirectly.”  Their Grandma Toot has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for some time. Cody shared about his grandma, “When Grandma Toot was diagnosed with Alzheimers, it hit hard. She was always so strong and independent. Growing up across the street, she was always the first to see me when I arrived home from Chicago and the last to say goodbye before heading back. “Grandma Toot is a fighter and a competitor,” he shared. She taught the four siblings and their cousins how to be good competitors, starting at the golf course she owned.  ”We are lucky enough to still have Grandma Toot with us today but sadly Alzheimers has taken away so much of what we know and love about her…Though she is not the same person she used to be, getting to see those small glimmers of her personality, feistiness and humor come out is truly the greatest feeling in the world!” In addition to their grandma’s journey with Alzheimer’s, the Wombachers lost their Great Aunt Donna to the disease in 2018. She was like another grandma to the siblings. Having no children of their own, they spoiled the four kids generously.  The Wombacher team, nicknamed Wombie Runners, includes novice and experienced marathoners alike. This is Hallie and Jacobs’ first Marathon, Chase’s third, and Cody’s twelfth marathon! Chase and Cody live in Chicago; Jacob and Hallie live in Iowa City, IA. When they’re not training, they spend time with their families. Some of their favorite post-run treats include chocolate milk, cold beer and Tootie Burgers—a family staple of legendary proportions.  “Running has always been a part of our family,” shared Cody. “And what better way to honor and help bring awareness to this disease than to run a marathon together.” Learn more about team ALZ Stars and donate to Wombie Runners here .

Christie Boody is participating in the Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, October 9 in honor of her father, who she lost to Alzheimer’s disease. This will be her sixth time walking in his honor.  Christie shares, “Every year we do it it’s so inspiring to see everyone come together to end this terrible disease. I always find hope that we will find a cure and we are getting closer each Walk!” Held in 24 locations around Illinois, the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease.  Illinois has 230,000 residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and 381,000 caregivers. “This is a terrible disease and you don’t know if you will be put in a position of someone having it close to you,” says Christie.  Christie wants those that haven’t experienced the disease first-hand to know that “it’s one of the hardest things to watch a loved one forget who you are and all the memories you made with them. To have to remind them who you are is an unexplainable feeling that just breaks your heart.”  Christie is joining other Walk participants across the state this fall to raise critical funds and awareness for families and individuals. Every dollar they raise funds 24/7 care and support services and advances research toward methods of prevention, treatment and ultimately a cure. Register for your local in-person Walk to End Alzheimer’s at alzheimers-illinois.org/walk . We will continue to closely monitor CDC, state and local guidelines to ensure Walk events adhere to recommendations and are safe for attendees. If you prefer to Walk From Home, you can still engage in many Walk-day experiences through our mobile app .

“It means a lot to be able to give back,” says Trista Waters. This is her first year participating in the Peoria Metro Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, October 2. Trista’s mother was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia two and a half years ago. “They told her at that time she had been living with dementia for four years already. My mother is 68 and lives in Alaska, and I may never be able to have a conversation with her again over the phone. I know one thing I can do is try and help fight this disease…I feel in life we can’t control everything that happens but we can control how we deal with it.” Trista is determined to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease. “We have to fight this,” she says. “More and more people are losing their lives to this disease and we need all the funding we can get to help families get the resources they need. “It’s heartbreaking watching your loved ones deteriorate. Dementia takes everything from you, they don’t know who and where they are and they forget their loved ones. You pretty much are just constantly mourning the loss of your loved one that is still here.” Trista has felt helpless living so far away from her mother. Yet participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s gives her purpose. “This is the only thing I know I can do. I just know with me raising as much money as I can, I will help end Alzheimer’s and other dementia…we need a cure!” Walk with Trista towards a future without this disease at one of our in-person Walk to End Alzheimer’s events, or Walk From Home with the new and improved Walk Mobile App .

For Christine Read, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s gives “hope that one day no one else I love and care about will have to struggle with this awful disease.” This is Christine’s sixth year participating in the Lake County Walk to End Alzheimer’s . Christine walks on Saturday, October 2 in honor of her grandmother, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease. “I lost my favorite person on this earth to it. Mourning the loss of someone while they are still living and breathing in front of you…It’s the most heartbreaking way to see someone live day in and day out.” Christine reminds everyone that there is no cure for the disease and no way to prevent the inevitable after diagnosis. “The most important people in your life could one day look at you like you are a complete stranger and not want to be around you, trust you, etc. It can also be frustrating at times if you are a caretaker. No amount of love, care, or compassion will make them remember anything you want them to.” Christine offers two tips for connecting with your loved one as they face the disease. If your loved one has a first language different from your own, Chrstine suggests learning it. “Eventually, they resort to that language and then it will become extremely difficult to communicate with them.” Secondly, Christine stresses the value of music to lift your loved one’s mood. “Music that they love will always trigger a happy place,” she shared. “They will even remember the lyrics. It’s heartwarming and gut wrenching at the same time. You’ll want to know why they can remember the words to a song, but not remember who you are to them.” Having experienced the difficulty of losing her grandmother to Alzheimer’s disease, Christine encourages everyone to join her in pursuit of a cure . She says, “even $1 every month or year will go a long way.” Join Christine at Walk to End Alzheimer’s this fall. Register at alzheimers-illinois.org/walk to raise valuable funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.

Shannon Elder began participating in the Decatur Walk to End Alzheimer’s two years ago. Her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016. Since his passing in 2019, Shannon began to reflect upon what her experience with her father and his illness was like. Shannon was her father’s primary caregiver throughout his illness. Overall, Shannon felt that she did not know enough about dementia and did not feel that she had access to enough education or resources about the topic. That is, until she found her way to the Alzheimer’s Association. Shannon took advantage of Alzheimer’s Association Support Groups for adult caregivers of parents living with dementia, as well as various educational programs about caregiving and Knowing the 10 Warning Signs of the disease. “[Caregiving] seems like something you can do on your own, or that you won’t need much support or help, but I was wrong,” Shannon shared. She added that throughout her experience with her father, she was most struck by the toll that caregiving took on her own health, family and relationships. Shannon got involved with several legislative efforts around caregiving and dementia in an effort to raise awareness. She has been writing e-mails to her local senators, sharing her story and informing them of the impact that dementia has had on her and her family. She believes that these personal stories shed light on how dementia impacts more than just the person with the illness–how it has a “ripple effect,” as she puts it. “This is a disease that it not hard just on the person it affects, it impacts everybody,” Shannon says. For this reason, Shannon wants her senators to lobby for increased research efforts into dementia and finding a cure. She also believes there needs to be more access to dementia education and dementia care so that other families are able to understand what caregiving is and how to make the best decision for their families. After Shannon’s father passed, two other family members were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She acted as caregivers for them, as well. Her Walk to End Alzheimer’s team is the “Alzheimer’s Warriors,” named to honor the members of her family who have been lost to this disease. “They were the warriors,” Shannon added. “This walk is for them.” Register for your local Walk to End Alzheimer’s at alzheimers-illinois.org/walk. Contributor: Amanda Wisinger, Alzheimer’s Association Volunteer

“Stay strong, you are not alone, and we will continue to fight for those who forget how to,” said Airen DeCarli. Airen is participating in the Lake County Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, October 2 in honor of her mother. For Airen, the Alzheimer’s Association signature fundraising event gives the opportunity to “walk closer to having a white flower, a survivor of this terrible disease. To get funding to run the tests we need so people no longer suffer and lose their memories. They worked so hard to make them.” Christmas Eve 2020 through the glass at Airen’s mother’s care facility. Airen’s mother was diagnosed with Stage 3 Dementia four years ago. “Due to the past year with the COVID-19 pandemic and her facility on lockdown for 13 and a half months, she has progressed to stage 6,” shared Airen. “There was minimal interaction during this time not only with her loved ones but also with facility members. Zoom calls depending on the day were usually confusing for her…Window visits were easier once allowed but my mom didn’t understand that she could see me and hear me through the headset, but couldn’t touch me because of the glass between us. Early November 2020. “It didn’t stop us though. In the cold months, I would wear layers and bring blankets and gloves and a hat while I showed her books with animal pictures. In July of 2020, I received a call saying my mom had tested positive for COVID-19, she wasn’t eating or drinking and they were taking her to the hospital. There were no Zoom calls at the hospital, only phone calls, to which mom didn’t understand anymore. She was scared and didn’t trust anyone. “My mom pushed through…Even through the tough times, we made it work.” Airen is grateful to now have easier access to her mother. “Visitations are in person now minus a few lockdowns every now and then for COVID-19 cases that arise. We go for walks around the pond at the facility complex, blow bubbles with bubble guns and she eats snacks that I know she loves. Sometimes a clarity moment pops through and she starts singing parts of a song that’s playing on my phone.” Airen and her mom on the 4th of July, 2021. Airen’s advice to other caregivers is to “be patient and know it’s okay that some days are better than others.” She wants those who haven’t faced Alzheimer’s or dementia to understand that “the caregivers are struggling just as badly as the ones with the disease. It doesn’t just affect the person with it, it affects all their loved ones, too.” “We take one day at a time; some are better than others. Sometimes I cry after I leave her, sometimes I’m happy—it all depends on how the visits are. Each day is a roller coaster.” Airen remains hopeful for a future without Alzheimer’s and dementia. “I will be strong and I will fight for her, for my family, and for all others going through it. I’m hoping together we can get that white flower.” Join Airen in seeking an end to Alzheiemer’s and all other dementia by participating in your local Walk to End Alzheimer’s event. Register at alzheimers-illinois.org/walk. At the 2020 Walk Promise Garden.

Melody Mulvaney is participating in the Mattoon/Charleston Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, September 25 in honor of her mother. When asked what the event means to her, she replied: “It means potentially putting an end to Alzheimer’s by raising funds for a cure. It’s also a great feeling coming together with so many people that are like family. Everyone has a different story but are all there for the same reason.” She has been involved with Walk for eight years. Melody encourages others to join her in raising funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease. She shared, “It truly is a horrible disease for the person living with it & for their family. They say Alzheimer’s is the long goodbye & I totally agree. You lose a little more of the person every day over time. As an Alzheimer’s daughter it is truly one of the hardest things that I’ve dealt with in my life. It robbed my mom of the things she enjoyed most in life! As a daughter/ caregiver I felt completely helpless because I knew there was nothing I could do to make her better. I know that’s how [other] family members…feel as well.” Melody’s mother lived with Alzheimer’s for about 10 years. Sadly, she passed away from the disease in June 2019. “I know in the beginning,” Melody said, “My mom was forgetting things but she still knew she was forgetting & it was very embarrassing for her. She thought everyone thought she was stupid. All we could do was try to reassure her that no one thought that. Do not argue with someone with dementia, it only makes them feel worse…Always remember, that’s the disease causing this, not your friend or loved one…They are still your friend or your loved one no matter what! We kept Mom at home as long as we could, but eventually, as hard as it was, we had to put her in a nursing home. She was on a regular Alzheimer’s floor & received very good care there. “We were there with our Mom every step of the way. We never let her fight this battle alone….Her fight was our fight too!” Melody and her two sisters visited their mother in her nursing home on a regular basis. They always went for holidays & their mother’s birthday. Melody was able to find support as a caregiver from her family and online community. “Life with Alzheimer’s/dementia is a roller coaster ride, full of ups, downs, sideways & upside downs. If you are a caregiver, please get a support system. This disease is hard on the person that has it but also very hard for the family & the caregiver! Talk to someone,  have a backup so you can take a day away. I joined some Alzheimer’s support groups on Facebook & it helped a lot. As a plus I’ve made a lot of great friends (family really) through these pages. You just have to take it one day at a time & pray for the best!” Join Melody in raising awareness and funds at Walk to End Alzheimer’s this fall. Find your Walk at alzheimers-illinois.org/walk .

On Monday, August 16, two of our policy victories were signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker! Special thanks to the partnership with our very own Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton and bill sponsors for making these successes possible. Thanks to leaders State Senator Ram Villivalam and Representative Kathleen Willis, Senate Bill 677 was signed into law as the first bill in the nation to ensure doctors and other healthcare provides serving adults receive ongoing dementia training. Thanks to sponsors Senator Melinda Bush and State Representative Natalie Manley, House Bill 848 was signed into law to extend the scratch-off lottery ticket to continue raising funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, education and awareness in Illinois. Together, we are making Illinois a dementia capable state! Learn more about Alzheimer’s Advocacy in Illinois.

So far, Brian Gaughan has faced countless challenges, both in his professional life and his personal life. He worked as a police officer for 10 years and then as a firefighter/paramedic for 23 years. He is a father of 8 and a grandfather of 13 (with #14 on the way!). His latest obstacle presented itself in July of 2020 when he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 61. He noted that this diagnosis “wasn’t really a shock at all,” as he had been experiencing significant memory problems and forgetfulness. “It’s not like, ‘Where are my keys?’ It’s like, ‘How do I get to work today?’” Rather than dwell on his early onset diagnosis, Brian said that his diagnosis pushed him and his wife, Judy, to “do things that [they] would be putting off” and to start crossing things off of Brian’s bucket list. First thing on the list? A road trip across the Pacific northwest in an RV. Brian noted that his Alzheimer’s diagnosis caused him and Judy to rearrange their priorities and that Brian wanted to prioritize enjoying his life and having fun. In fact, his advice for anyone who has been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is to “sit down and figure out what you want to do [in life] and go do it right away.” Through the Alzheimer’s Association, Brian has found a supportive network and a newfound voice of advocacy and change. His devotion to the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association is evident in his immense involvement within the organization. Soon after his initial diagnosis, he regularly attended a regional Young Onset Support Group in which he connected with other people who were dealing with their own diagnoses. Recently, Brian was selected as a member of the Alzheimer’s Association national Early Stage Advisory Group, a role in which he will act as a spokesperson for other people with early onset Alzheimer’s, and participate in various speaking engagements. Previously, Brian provided testimony to an Illinois House of Representatives committee regarding mandated training for physicians. He hopes to do more lobbying in the future for increased education and research pertaining to dementia. There is no doubt that Brian will continue demonstrating immense courage when faced with challenges throughout his dementia journey – just like he has done when faced with adversity throughout his storied career as a first responder. What’s next for Brian? Well, he and Judy are still figuring out where their next RV destination will be, but one thing is for certain – he needs to make it back to Chicago by the end of August to meet grandchild #14!  Contributor: Amanda Wisinger, Alzheimer’s Association Volunteer

The Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter is thrilled to announce the new members of our Board of Directors. The incoming cohort is led by Chair Aimee Nolan, Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel for W.W. Grainger, Inc. Incoming Board Chair Aimee Nolan. Aimee is the Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel for W.W. Grainger, Inc. She is responsible for providing legal counsel and strategic advice in connection with the company’s technology, digital and eCommerce matters as well as all aspects of Grainger’s Intellectual Property portfolio, including patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights and domain names. Aimee also supports the company’s global product sourcing group, marketing and advertising initiatives, the customer growth strategy and information teams and corporate communications. She is also a leader of Grainger’s enterprise wide efforts on data protection, cyber security, privacy and breach response, and provides legal counsel in connection with its pandemic response efforts. Aimee is passionate about serving the mission of the Alzheimer Association, Illinois Chapter because her mother Betsy died at the age of 62 from early onset Alzheimer’s. Her mother’s primary caregiver was Aimee’s grandmother, who passed 10 days after her mother’s death. Aimee’s grandmother on her father’s side also passed of Alzheimer’s. Aimee served as a member of the Illinois Women and Alzheimer Initiative Task Force and served as chair of Illinois Women Conquer ALZ (IWCA) from 2017-2021. She joined the board of the Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter on July 1, 2017. Aimee has been an enduring champion of the Alzheimer’s Association, and we look forward to this next chapter in her steadfast leadership. We are also pleased to welcome six new members to our Board of Directors. This dynamic group will apply their skills and expertise to furthering the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association. We thank them for their commitment to our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. The six new members of the IL Chapter Board of Directors. (Pictured clockwise from top left.) Lisa Butler – Senior Director, CVS Health Marta Cerda – CEO, ASI & NE Healthcare Nick Gialessas – Vice President, Kufman Hall Marilyn Lissner – Executive Director, Cushman & Wakefield Nancy Tyrrell – Associate Director, Translational Activities – Chicago Biomedical Consortium Ray Willis – Retired, most recently served as the Director of Community Planning and Development for the Chicago Office of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Sarah and her mother, Milly O’Brien. Sarah O’Brien Boyd will lace up her sneakers and hit the tennis court on Saturday, June 19 to participate in The Longest Day. She will play tennis from sunrise to sunset in Skokie, Illinois, in honor of her mother, Milly O’Brien.  Milly passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 2016. She was an extremely active person and was passionate about tennis for almost forty years. Sarah will honor her mother’s legacy this weekend by playing the sport she loved. Sarah’s friends and family will join her on the court to keep her busy all day. Sarah is the youngest of seven children and grew up in Northern New Jersey. While her siblings on the East Coast won’t be able to cheer her on in-person, they contributed significantly to her fundraising. They also helped Sarah brainstorm some of Milly’s famous expressions which Sarah used as names for her sign up slots. Sarah shared, “When I came up with the idea of using my Mom’s expressions as time slots for my SignUpGenius, they helped me remember many of them. It was right around Mother’s Day and the 5 year anniversary of my Mom’s passing, so I think it was our way of paying tribute to her.” Her sayings included, “Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear,” and “Only boring people are bored.” Reminiscing about their mother’s songs and sayings made Sarah and her siblings laugh, providing a moment of levity on an otherwise somber anniversary.  Sarah’s husband and children are also supporting her Longest Day activity. Her son Cameron will host his own all-day sporting event: he plans to play golf from sunrise to sunset one day next week. Sarah’s younger sons and husband plan to join her during one of her tennis slots on Saturday and cheer her on from the sidelines throughout the day. Relatives on both sides of their family have passed from Alzheimer’s and dementia, and some are living with it today. “Obviously, there are so many needy causes out there and people tend to get involved when a disease affects them personally,” says Sarah. “So I think the more we can educate people about what happens to Alzheimer’s patients and their families, the more people will want to get involved and raise funds to fight the disease.” Sarah’s fundraising is in full swing: she hasn’t gotten to the tennis court yet, but she already reached the elite Solstice Champion status. She started collecting donations early and raised over $11,000 for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. As Milly would say, “The early bird catches the worm.” Support Sarah’s The Longest Day fundraiser here, and learn more at alz.org/TheLongestDay. The Longest Day is a fundraising event focused around the summer solstice—June 20—that strives to advance the care, support, and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association. People from around the world will choose a fundraising activity of their choice to fight against Alzheimer’s.

The Final Roses by Susanne Dotson Join Illinois Women Conquer ALZ on Wednesday, May 26th at 5:00 PM CST for an incredible event with artist Susanne Dotson. Hear Susanne’s personal story of her mother’s journey with dementia as shown through her artwork. Victoria Raymont, the Chair of the Illinois Chapter Board of Directors, will be in conversation with Susanne during the event. Proceeds from select artwork sales will go towards supporting the Alzheimer’s Association. Susanne’s mother, Harriet Keller Wise, was an artist. Susanne grew up with a 48 box of crayons and unlined paper always around the house. She always loved making art, and would later pursue it as a career. Susanne spent ten years working towards an undergraduate BFA degree, worked 40 years in the business sector, and attended Columbus College of Art & Design to earn her MFA after retiring. Her mother loved to critique and engage in art conversation with Susanne. Her mother was proud of Susanne’s path to earn her degrees. Join us to learn about Susanne’s mother’s journey with dementia, and how art provided the perfect medium to share her story. To RSVP for An Intimate Conversation with Artist Susanne Dotson: “Can You Tell Me Who I Am,” click here.