There are so many great nonprofits.  One nonprofit that is assisting so many seniors is the Alzheimer’s Organization.  Alzheimer Disease strikes a great many of elderly men and women.   Much research is still being done to help with quality of life for those stricken with this disease.  There are some individuals that have chosen this nonprofit on a personal quest for a family member.

One such person is Allen Kampf.  Allen says, “This is very meaningful to me. Since my mother has been diagnosed (with Alzheimer’s), I’ve been involved being a caretaker and reviewing nursing homes. Now, I’m on a mission to make people aware of this is a devastating disease. This would be a good way to get the word out.”

On October 16, 2010,  there will be a Baltimore Marathon raising awareness to Alzheimer Disease. Allen will be running the marathon as part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s team “ALZ Stars” prior to the event. It is a cause he is dedicated to, because of his experience with his mother.

“My mother is 85 years old. She is a Holocaust survivor, living in Wellington, Florida. My mother was and still is physically healthy,” he said, beginning his story. “In April of 2007, we — my sister and I — noticed my mother’s behavior was a little different.  My mother is an immaculate dresser, she always went to the beauty parlor, and her house is always clean. We noticed she wasn’t going to beauty parlor, the house wasn’t clean, and that she often had stains on her clothes.  We took her to the neurologist. We had to keep telling her ‘You’re not crazy, it’s just part of getting older, and we just need to make sure you’re fine.’ Anyway, we did that, and then she was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease.” – Allen shared his story with us.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association website, (http://www.alz.org) as many as 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.

In fundraising for the event, Allen said he has come in contact with many neighbors and friends who know someone who has been affected by Alzheimer’s. “It’s all about making people aware of Alzheimer’s disease and raising money for the association.”  Let’s become a team…make a donation to ALZ Stars. Send checks, made payable to the Alzheimer’s Association, to Jessica Suriano, 1850 York Road, Suite D, and Timonium, MD 21093.  Thank you for helping to bring a future free of Alzheimer’s Disease!

Tammy Bowers is the Co-Owner of Rolling Ads of Maryland, a unique branding company offering a networking Concierge Service as well as an Outdoor Mobile Billboard Advertising Vehicle.  She is also a Charter Member with the Village Connector Online Community Newspaper. You can reach Tammy via email at Tammy@rollingadsmd.com

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